Alicia Koplowitz
Alicia Koplowitz y Romero de Juseu | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 12, 1954 Madrid, Spain |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Omega Capital; former shareholder of Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) |
Alicia Koplowitz y Romero de Juseu (born 12 September 1954) is a Spanish billionaire entrepreneur and former aristocrat who held a noble title until a Supreme Court decision reassigned it to her distant relative María Elena de Cárdenas.
Following the passing of their father, she and her sister inherited the construction company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, S.A. (CYCSA), originally established by their father. Alicia eventually sold her shares to her sister and went on to create Omega Capital, which ranks among Europe's largest family investment offices.
Early life and education
Alicia was born in Madrid in 1954 as the younger daughter of Ernesto Koplowitz Sternberg, a Jewish entrepreneur from Upper Silesia who escaped Nazi Germany during the 1930s, and Esther Romero de Juseu y Armenteros, a member of the Spanish nobility. The sisters inherited noble titles through their mother: Alicia held the designations Marquesa de Bellavista and Marquesa del Real Socorro, while her sister Esther was titled Marquesa de Casa Peñalver.
Ernesto Koplowitz began his career with the German electronics corporation AEG before purchasing Construcciones y Reparaciones S.A. in 1952, subsequently renaming it Construcciones y Contratas S.A. (CYCSA). The firm experienced substantial growth during Spain’s construction surge in the early 1960s.
Alicia received her education at Lycée Français and later attended the University Complutense of Madrid.
Career
After her father's death in a horse-riding accident in 1962, Alicia’s mother appointed Ramón Areces, president of El Corte Inglés S.A., to oversee CYCSA on behalf of the family. The enterprise underwent notable transitions following her mother’s death in 1968.
In 1969, Esther Koplowitz married Alberto Alcocer, while Alicia wed his cousin Alberto Cortina. Subsequently, the sisters stepped down from their board positions in favor of their husbands, who from 1973 expanded the company by diversifying into real estate ventures, acquiring Banco Zaragozano, and purchasing a 47% share in Catalonia-based construction firm Fomento de Obras y Construcciones SA (FOCSA).
Both sisters divorced their spouses amid personal controversies in 1990 and resumed their roles on CYCSA’s board. Their former husbands retained ownership stakes in Banco Zaragozano as part of divorce settlements.
In 1992, CYCSA merged with FOCSA to establish Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. (FCC), which became Spain's leading construction firm at that time. Alicia sold her 28.26% holding to Esther in 1998 for €871 million. By then, FCC was Spain’s foremost construction and services company; however, by 2012 it had dropped to fifth place while Grupo ACS—where their ex-husbands hold major shares—emerged as the world’s largest construction group.
After departing FCC, Koplowitz broadened her investment portfolio through private equity and acquisitions in blue-chip companies, energy sectors, and international real estate assets including the Ritz Madrid and Park Hyatt Milan, under the advisement of former Repsol chairman Oscar Fanjul. Her estimated net worth stands at approximately €3 billion.
In 1998, she launched Omega Capital, a private investment firm focused on growth-oriented opportunities. Fully owned by Koplowitz, Omega Capital began allocating funds into hedge funds starting in 1999.
Philanthropy and awards
Koplowitz founded two charitable organizations: Fundación Vida y Esperanza (1994), which assists children, teenagers, and young adults experiencing social, familial, and economic hardships by providing support in housing, education, and job opportunities. This foundation presently offers full-time aid to approximately 100 beneficiaries across Spain. Additionally, a division of the foundation supports elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and partners with other charitable entities.
Her Fundación Alicia Koplowitz sponsors scholarships for Spanish researchers specializing in child psychiatry at prestigious institutions such as King's College, Columbia University Medical Center, and Stanford University. These scholarships fund research activities, accommodation, and salaries for durations ranging from two to four years, while also facilitating the scholars' return to leading Spanish research centers. The foundation hosts Spain’s largest yearly psychiatry conference, featuring internationally renowned experts. In 2009, Koplowitz was honored as an honorary member of the Spanish Society of Psychiatrists in recognition of her contributions to advancing child and adolescent psychiatry—a specialty officially acknowledged in Spain largely due to her advocacy.
In 2004, she spearheaded the development and donation of the Alicia Koplowitz Multiple Sclerosis Hospital in Spain, which stands as Europe’s largest facility dedicated to multiple sclerosis treatment.
Her accolades include the Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil (2003), France's Chevalier de La Légion d'honneur, Madrid’s Premio Persona Singular (2007), the Spanish State Gold Medal (2009), and the Red Cross Gold Medal (2013).
Koplowitz holds board memberships at several prominent institutions including L’Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs (France), Christie's Auction House, The Shimon Peres Center for Peace, Guggenheim Museum, Prado Museum, The Prince of Asturias Foundation, and the University Charles III of Spain.
She possesses one of the most extensive art collections in Europe—and the largest in Spain—featuring masterpieces by artists such as Goya, Picasso, Modigliani, Van Gogh, Rothko, and de Kooning.
Personal life
Koplowitz has three sons with Alberto Cortina:
- Alberto Cortina (born 1971) earned a law degree in Madrid and began his professional journey at Banco Zaragozano; he later joined Omega Capital. In 2000, Koplowitz transferred to him the noble title of Marquess de Real Socorro. He is married to Inés Balmaseda, daughter of the Count of Cumbres Altas.
- Pedro Cortina (born 1972) started his career at NH Hoteles before founding Hospes, a hotel chain operating in France and Spain. He is wedded to interior designer Bárbara Chapártegui; together they have three children.
- Pelayo Cortina (born 1985), who holds the title Count of San Fernando de Peñalver following a judicial decision, studied Industrial Engineering and Management at Northwestern University. His professional experience includes roles at Lehman Brothers Private Equity, Arcelor Mittal Strategy, Societe Generale Natural Resources, and Ecofin Global L/S Fund. Pelayo serves on boards such as Northern Gold Mining and Engel & Völkers. He is married to Jane Coppée Vaxelaire, a Belgian art specialist affiliated with Sotheby's and descended from an industrial family.
Between 2004 and 2006, Koplowitz was romantically linked with Spanish noble Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 19th Duke of Alba. Since 2012, she has been partnered with Portuguese entrepreneur Miguel Pais do Amaral, 8th Count of Anadia.
Raised in the Catholic faith by her mother Esther Romero de Juseu y Armenteros (deceased 1968), Koplowitz was formerly connected to the Legionnaires of Christ.
Her mother initiated legal disputes concerning noble titles which led to Koplowitz obtaining the Marquessate of El Real Socorro in 1971; meanwhile her sister Esther was granted the County of Peñalver in 1988. In 2017, court rulings involving Cuban claimants resulted in Koplowitz losing certain marquesado titles to María Elena de Cárdenas.
Trivia
- Alicia Koplowitz was depicted by Leire Martinez, the main singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, in the television film La duquesa.