What is Ion Tiriac's Net Worth?
Ion Tiriac is a Romanian businessman and former professional ice hockey and tennis player who has a net worth of $2.4 billion. Ion Tiriac's remarkable career spans multiple domains, transforming him from a professional athlete into a successful businessman and sports entrepreneur. As a tennis player, he achieved notable success in doubles, winning the 1970 French Open men's doubles title with Ilie Năstase. He also represented Romania in ice hockey at the 1964 Winter Olympics, making him one of the few athletes to compete professionally in both sports. After retiring from tennis, Tiriac began managing other players. He immediately became Ilie Năstase's full-time coach and eventually went on to coach superstars such as Mary Joe Fernández, Guillermo Vilas, Marat Safin, Steffi Graf, and Goran Ivanišević. Between 1984 and 1993, Ion personally orchestrated Boris Becker's ascent to become the #1 ranked player in the world (1991).
Working with Boris Becker during this interesting period in German history exposed Ion to Western business practices. In 1990, he founded his own bank back in Romania, which he called Banca Tiriac. It was the very first privately owned bank in post-communist Romania. He then went on to launch retail businesses, auto dealerships, an airline, and an insurance company. He also owns a large residential and commercial real estate portfolio. Today, his empire includes Tiriac Holdings, TiriacAIR, HVB Tiriac Bank, Allianz-Tiriac Asigurari Romania, TiriacAuto, Tiriac Leasing, and Tir Travel. Tiriac owns the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open and was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013. He had never earned more than a few million dollars as a professional athlete, but within two years of the Berlin Wall falling, Ion Țiriac was worth over $100 million. By 2000, he was worth $500 million. In 2005, his net worth was estimated at $900 million. He was first anointed a billionaire in 2007. He was Romania's first billionaire and is currently the richest person in Romania.
Tiriac's contribution to tennis continued through the creation and ownership of several tournaments, including the Madrid Open, which he transformed into a prestigious combined ATP/WTA event. He became the first Romanian inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013, recognized not only for his playing career but also for his significant impact on tennis as a manager and tournament promoter.
Richest Athlete in the World?
For much of the last few decades, Ion Tiriac was the richest athlete in the world. In April 2020, Michael Jordan's net worth increased to $2.2 billion, allowing MJ to earn the title of richest athlete in the world.
Early Life
Ion Țiriac was born on May 9, 1939, in Brașov, Transylvania, Romania, during a time of political instability and economic hardship. He initially excelled in table tennis before focusing on ice hockey. As a teenager, he joined the Brașov professional team and quickly emerged as a standout defenseman. In 1964, he represented Romania at the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
After the Olympics, Țiriac shifted his focus to tennis, where he built a successful professional career, especially in doubles. He partnered with fellow Romanian Ilie Năstase to form one of the most feared doubles teams of the era. They won the 1970 French Open men's doubles title and reached the finals of several other major tournaments. In singles, Țiriac reached the French Open quarterfinals and was ranked as high as world No. 8.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Tennis Career
His hockey talent led him to represent Romania at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, demonstrating exceptional skill as a defenseman. However, it was his transition to tennis that would set the stage for his most significant sporting achievements.
On the tennis court, Tiriac developed into a formidable doubles player. His partnership with fellow Romanian Ilie Năstase proved particularly successful, culminating in their victory at the 1970 French Open men's doubles championship. Throughout his tennis career, he reached the quarterfinals of the French Open singles and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 8. His playing style was characterized by tactical intelligence rather than natural flair, making him a challenging opponent on any surface.
Ion Tiriac (left) and Ilie Nastase (right) in Monte Carlo in 1971 (Photo by Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Transition to Coaching and Sports Management
Upon retiring from professional tennis in 1980, Țiriac quickly transitioned to coaching and management. He first became Ilie Năstase's full-time coach, then expanded his roster to include stars such as Mary Joe Fernández, Guillermo Vilas, Goran Ivanišević, and Steffi Graf. His most notable success came managing Boris Becker, whom he guided from teenage prodigy to world No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam champion.
Țiriac's hands-on management style was revolutionary. He handled his clients' training schedules, press obligations, sponsorships, and financial planning, becoming a model for the modern sports agent.
Business Empire
While managing Boris Becker in Germany, Țiriac became increasingly exposed to Western business practices. After the fall of communism in Romania, he saw opportunity in the country's new capitalist transition. In 1991, he founded Banca Țiriac, the first privately owned bank in post-communist Romania. The bank later merged with HVB Bank Romania, and by 2008 had evolved into UniCredit Țiriac Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the country. In 2015, Țiriac sold his 45% stake, and the bank was renamed UniCredit Bank.
- Țiriac used the bank as a springboard into other ventures, launching a business empire through his holding company Țiriac Holdings. His ventures include:
- ȚiriacAuto: One of Romania's top luxury auto dealership networks
- Țiriac Leasing: Vehicle leasing and fleet services
- ȚiriacAIR: A private aviation company
- Tir Travel: A high-end travel services agency
- Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări: One of the country's largest insurance firms
- Stejarii Country Club: A luxury real estate and lifestyle complex near Bucharest
- Țiriac Collection: A private museum of over 400 rare and exotic vehicles
Tournament Ownership and Tennis Development
Tiriac's influence on professional tennis extended to tournament ownership and development. His flagship achievement was the transformation of the Madrid Open into a premier combined ATP/WTA event. Under his leadership, the tournament introduced innovations such as blue clay courts (though this experiment was short-lived) and established itself as a key preparation event for the French Open.
Stejarii Country Club and Real Estate Development
Țiriac's ventures into real estate are just as ambitious as his banking and automotive businesses. His flagship development is the Stejarii Country Club, a luxury residential and lifestyle complex on the northern edge of Bucharest. Stejarii combines world-class athletic facilities, spa services, and fine dining with private residences designed for Romania's elite. The property also includes wooded walking trails, tennis courts, swimming pools, and exclusive social areas, making it one of the most prestigious addresses in the country.
Stejarii reflects Țiriac's long-term vision of integrating high-end living with elite sport and wellness. It is both a symbol of modern Romanian luxury and a major source of ongoing income within his broader real estate portfolio.
The Țiriac Collection: One of the World's Most Exclusive Car Museums
Beyond finance and sports, Ion Țiriac is also one of the world's most passionate and prolific car collectors. Housed in a private museum near Bucharest, the Țiriac Collection features over 400 rare, vintage, and exotic automobiles from around the globe.
The collection includes standout models such as:
- Two Ferrari F40s, including one formerly owned by F1 driver Gerhard Berger
- All seven generations of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, including two ultra-rare Phantom IVs
- A 1939 Bugatti Type 57, a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, and a 1930s Duesenberg Model J
- Romania's oldest surviving automobile, an 1899 Hurtu Quadricycle
- Celebrity-owned vehicles from icons like Elton John and Sammy Davis Jr.
Every vehicle in the collection is maintained in drivable condition, and the museum is open to the public by appointment. The Țiriac Collection stands as a testament to his obsessive attention to detail, his appreciation for design, and his ability to turn passion into legacy.
Legacy and Recognition
In 2013, Tiriac's contributions to tennis were formally recognized with his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, making him the first Romanian to receive this honor. His induction acknowledged not only his playing career but also his revolutionary impact on sports management and tournament organization.
Tiriac's legacy is multifaceted: he demonstrated that athletic success could be translated into business achievement, pioneered modern sports management practices, and helped develop tennis infrastructure in Europe. His career trajectory from Olympic hockey player to tennis champion to business mogul remains one of the most unique in sports history.
Through his various roles as athlete, manager, businessman, and tournament owner, Tiriac has shaped professional tennis in fundamental ways. His influence continues through the tournaments he developed and the business empire he built, making him one of the most significant figures in both Romanian business and international tennis. His story serves as an inspiration for athletes looking to transition into business and management, proving that success in sports can be a springboard to achievement in other fields.