Forbes List Reveals Turkish Businessmen's Wealth Peaks: Surprising Names from 2000 to 2026

Forbes annually publishes the world's richest, and Turkish businessmen's wealth peaks have shifted across sectors from banking and telecom in the early 2000s to retail and industry in the 2010s, and to technology, biotech and energy in the 2020s. Notable figures include Hamdi Ulukaya, Uğur Şahin and Murat Ülker.

Forbes List Reveals Turkish Businessmen's Wealth Peaks Forbes annually publishes the world's richest, and Turkish businessmen's wealth peaks have shifted across sectors from banking and telecom in the early 2000s to retail and industry in the 2010s, and to technology, biotech and energy in the 2020s.
Early 2000s: Banking and Telecom In the early 2000s, Turkish fortunes were dominated by banking and telecom.
Emin Karamehmet, the head of Çukurova Holding, topped the list in 2000 with a net worth of $8 billion.
2010s: Retail and Industry The 2010s saw retail and industrial conglomerates rise to prominence.
Murat Ülker, founder of Yıldız Holding, reached $6.3 billion in 2021, while the SASA group also featured prominently.
2020s: Technology, Biotech and Energy In the 2020s, the focus shifted to technology, biotech and energy.
Uğur Şahin, co‑founder of BioNTech, reached $7.2 billion in 2021‑22, and Cemil Kazancı of Kazancı Holding topped the list in 2026 with $5.2 billion.
Top Wealth Figures (USD) Hamdi Ulukaya – $13.6 billion (2025/26, Chobani) Emin Karamehmet – $8.0 billion (2000, Çukurova Holding) Uğur Şahin – $7.2 billion (2021/22, BioNTech) Murat Ülker – $6.3 billion (2021, Yıldız Holding) İbrahim Erdemoğlu – $5.3 billion (2023, SASA Polyester) Cemil Kazancı – $5.2 billion (2026, Kazancı Holding) Rahmi Koç – $4.9 billion (2004/05, Koç Holding) Ali Erdemoğlu – $4.7 billion (2023, SASA Polyester) Ferit Şahenk – $4.7 billion (2004/05, Doğuş Group) Hüsnü Özyeğin – $3.5 billion (2007, Fiba Holding) Uğur Şahin's wealth surged due to BioNTech's pandemic vaccine sales.
Family Conglomerates Established families such as the Koç and Sabancı dynasties maintain stable wealth through diversified holdings, preserving and growing their fortunes over time.
Conclusion Forbes data shows that Turkish businessmen’s peak fortunes reflect shifting sectoral priorities and global market dynamics, with some names falling off the list while others rise in recent years.

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