14 Richest Families In El Salvador Now

Beyond the Bitcoin Hype: The 14 Families Who Still Shape El Salvador’s Economy

When the world looks at El Salvador, it sees Nayib Bukele, volcanoes, and the world’s first Bitcoin City. But to understand who really controls the country’s land, banking, coffee, and sugar, you have to look past the headlines to a quieter, older power structure: the oligarchy.

The phrase “los 14” (the 14 families) is a historical shorthand that has permeated Salvadoran society for over a century. While the exact roster has shifted due to civil war, expropriations, and modern mergers, the concentration of wealth remains. These are not just rich people; they are dynasties whose roots often trace back to the 19th-century coffee boom.

Here is a look at the 14 most influential families—historical and contemporary—that continue to define the economic landscape of El Salvador.

Why don't we see them on Forbes?

Forbes requires transparency. These families operate through blind trusts, offshore shell companies (often in Panama or the British Virgin Islands), and "testaferros" (front men). The Pandora Papers (2021) revealed how several Salvadoran first families hid assets in South Dakota trusts—not because they were breaking laws, but because they value privacy over publicity.

The Architects of the New

The tension in the room—whenever the Fourteen gathered for their discreet, annual "agricultural summit"—usually came from the new blood.

The Claros and the Paz families represented the shift from the fields to the skyline. They didn't care about harvest seasons; they cared about concrete and interest rates. The Claros owned the banking sector. They didn't just hold money; they decided who could borrow it. They financed the malls that sprang up like mushrooms after rain, turning San Salvador into a replica of Miami.

The Paz family, led by the formidable matriarch Doña Elena, controlled construction. If the government wanted a new highway or a stadium, the Paz trucks were rolling before the ink was dry.

"They are paving over our history," old man Duke grumbled one evening, sipping an aged scotch on the terrace of the Cascade restaurant.

"No," corrected a younger scion from the Melián family, who controlled the media. "We are writing the new chapter. Coffee is nostalgic. Real estate is the future."

10. The Sol Millet Family (Grupo Banistmo / Desarrollo Industrial)

Estimated Net Worth: $450 Million Source of Wealth: Industrial plastics, Banking, and Free Zones.

This family controls several offshore manufacturing plants ("Maquilas"). They own the largest plastic injection molding factory in Central America, supplying parts to Hasbro, Mattel, and automotive companies in the US. They also have deep, hidden stakes in offshore banking.

Ranking (by estimated net worth, USD)

| Rank | Family | Main companies / sectors | Est. net worth (USD) | |------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------------| | 1 | Saca / Safie | Banking (Banco Agrícola), TV (Telecorporación), real estate | $1.2–1.8 B | | 2 | Simán | Almacenes Simán (retail, duty-free), finance, logistics | $800 M–1.1 B | | 3 | Murray Meza | Grupo Cuscatlán (banking, insurance, free zones) | $700 M–900 M | | 4 | Dueñas | Grupo Dutriz (publishing – La Prensa Gráfica), electricity | $600 M–800 M | | 5 | Regalado Dueñas | Grupo Régulo (construction, real estate, agribusiness) | $500 M–700 M | | 6 | Sol Millet / De Sola | Grupo Poma (inherited former share), plastics, manufacturing | $450 M–600 M | | 7 | Wright | Grupo Wright (coffee export, logistics, maquila) | $400 M–550 M | | 8 | Hazoury | Super Selectos (largest supermarket chain), real estate | $350 M–500 M | | 9 | Dalton | Agroindustria (sugar, ethanol), former banking | $300 M–450 M | | 10 | Lara | Grupo Lara (textiles, free zones, real estate) | $250 M–400 M | | 11 | Jager | Grupo JAGER (construction materials, industrial) | $200 M–350 M | | 12 | Schonenberg | Inversiones Schonenberg (telecom towers, real estate) | $180 M–300 M | | 13 | Quiñónez | Banco Hipotecario (former controlling stake), energy | $150 M–250 M | | 14 | Mena | Grupo Mena (automotive distribution, spare parts) | $120 M–200 M |

Conclusion

The 14 richest families of El Salvador represent a staggering concentration of power. While Bukele has cracked down on gang violence, he has not touched the oligarquía 2.0. As of 2025, these families still control over 60% of the country’s private GDP. They are the silent landlords of the nation, proving that in El Salvador, some dynasties are truly eternal.

Note: Net worth figures are estimates compiled from Central American financial reports, investigative journalism by El Faro, and land registry leaks. Actual wealth may be higher due to offshore shell companies. 14 richest families in el salvador

The 14 Richest Families in El Salvador: A Look at the Country's Economic Elite

El Salvador, a small but vibrant country in Central America, has a rich and complex economy. While the country faces many challenges, including poverty and inequality, there are many wealthy families who have made their fortunes in various industries. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the 14 richest families in El Salvador, their sources of wealth, and their impact on the country's economy.

1. The Slim Family

The Slim family is one of the most influential and wealthy families in El Salvador. Their fortune was made in the telecommunications industry, with interests in companies such as TigoStar and Movistar. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $1.5 billion.

2. The Garci'a Family

The Garci'a family is another prominent family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the construction and real estate industries. Their company, Garci'a Asociados, is one of the largest construction companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $1.2 billion.

3. The Reyes Family

The Reyes family is a well-known family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the agriculture and food industries. Their company, Ingenio Joya de Cerén, is one of the largest sugar producers in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $900 million.

4. The Monteros Family

The Monteros family is a wealthy family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the finance and banking industries. Their company, Banco Monteros, is one of the largest banks in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $800 million.

5. The Bustillo Family

The Bustillo family is a prominent family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the construction and real estate industries. Their company, Construcciones Bustillo, is one of the largest construction companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $700 million.

6. The Romero Family

The Romero family is a wealthy family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the transportation and logistics industries. Their company, Grupo Romero, is one of the largest transportation companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $600 million.

7. The Deras Family

The Deras family is a well-known family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the agriculture and food industries. Their company, Exportadora de Café, is one of the largest coffee exporters in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $500 million.

8. The Chacón Family

The Chacón family is a prominent family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the construction and real estate industries. Their company, Chacón Constructores, is one of the largest construction companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $450 million.

9. The Ayala Family

The Ayala family is a wealthy family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the finance and banking industries. Their company, Banco Ayala, is one of the largest banks in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $400 million.

10. The Trigueros Family

The Trigueros family is a well-known family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the agriculture and food industries. Their company, Trigueros Internacional, is one of the largest agricultural companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $350 million.

11. The Zelaya Family

The Zelaya family is a prominent family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the construction and real estate industries. Their company, Grupo Zelaya, is one of the largest construction companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $300 million.

12. The Folsom Family

The Folsom family is a wealthy family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the finance and banking industries. Their company, Banco Folsom, is one of the largest banks in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $250 million. Beyond the Bitcoin Hype: The 14 Families Who

13. The Mirones Family

The Mirones family is a well-known family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the agriculture and food industries. Their company, Mirones Export, is one of the largest agricultural companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $200 million.

14. The Pisco Family

The Pisco family is a prominent family in El Salvador, with a fortune made in the construction and real estate industries. Their company, Pisco Construcciones, is one of the largest construction companies in the country. The family's net worth is estimated to be over $150 million.

Conclusion

The 14 richest families in El Salvador have made their fortunes in various industries, including telecommunications, construction, agriculture, finance, and more. While these families have contributed to the country's economy and growth, there are also concerns about income inequality and the concentration of wealth among a few elite families. As El Salvador continues to develop and grow, it will be important to address these issues and ensure that the benefits of economic growth are shared more broadly among all Salvadorans.

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The rain in San Salvador falls hard enough to wash away the dust, but never the history. From the terraces of the multi-million dollar penthouses in the Escalón district, the city looks like a sprawling circuit board of lights, pulsing with the energy of a country constantly reinventing itself.

But if you look closely at the board of directors for the banks, the coffee exporters, the pharmaceutical empires, and the new booming shopping malls, the names remain stubbornly consistent.

They are the Catorce—the Fourteen. It is not an official club, no plaque hangs on a wall, but in the social pages of El Diario de Hoy and the private ledgers of the banks, they are the dynasty that holds the levers of El Salvador. Conclusion The 14 richest families of El Salvador

Methodology & Limitations

  1. Sources: Forbes Centroamérica (2018–2023), Revista Estrategia y Negocios, leaked Panama Papers (minor references), property registries, and corporate filings.
  2. No official billionaires in El Salvador by Forbes 2025 list; all families listed are multi‑millionaires with cross‑border assets.
  3. Ranking 6‑14 often intermarries: e.g., Sol Millet linked to Poma (Honduras). Wright family overlaps with Dalí (banking).

14. The Choussy Family (The Pharmaceutical & Medical Monopoly)

Finally, the Choussys control Farmacias San Nicolás and Laboratorios López, the only national drug manufacturer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they became de facto gatekeepers for private vaccines. They also own a chain of private hospitals (Hospital de Diagnóstico). Their wealth surged 40% during the health crisis. Estimated net worth: $250 million.