Ricardo Salinas Pliego & family

Early Life

Ricardo Benjamín Salinas Pliego was born on October 19, 1955, in Mexico City, Mexico. He is the son of Ricardo Salinas Lozano, a businessman, and Margarita Pliego de Salinas. He obtained a CPA from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and an MBA from Tulane University.

Rise to Success

Salinas Pliego took over Grupo Elektra as CEO in 1987, after his father stepped down. He refocused Elektra on appliances, electronics, and furniture and expanded by offering financial services to lower-income consumers. In 1993, he won a government auction to acquire Imevision, later renamed TV Azteca, which became a major media conglomerate.

Key Business Strategies

Salinas Pliego's key strategies included expanding consumer credit through Banco Azteca and acquiring media assets like TV Azteca to break the television monopoly in Mexico. He has been focused on creating new markets by creating purchasing power among classes of people previously ignored.

Philanthropy

Salinas Pliego founded Fundación Azteca in 1997 to address social problems, with campaigns in healthcare, education, and environmental protection. He has been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including the annual “Juguetón” or “Toy Marathon”.