Hiroshi Mikitani

Hiroshi Mikitani

$3.72 B

Ranked #1130 in World

About Hiroshi Mikitani

Hiroshi Mikitani, a renowned Japanese billionaire and Rakuten, Inc.'s founder, has made significant strides in the e-commerce sector since launching the online marketplace in 1997. Born in Kobe, Mikitani attended Hitotsubashi University and later Harvard Business School. His career transitioned from banking to entrepreneurship, envisioning a unique online exchange. Beyond business, Mikitani's interests span sports, with leadership roles in Vissel Kobe and the Rakuten Golden Eagles. His philanthropic efforts and literary contributions, including several books on success and business, underline his diverse influence.

Born

March 11, 1965 in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Age

60 years

Source Of Wealth

Online Retail

Industries

Fashion & Retail

Citizenship

Japan

Residence

Tokyo

Education

Master of Business Administration, Harvard University

Spouse

Haruko Mikitani (Married: 1993)

Children

2

Hiroshi Mikitani was born on March 11, 1965, in Kobe, Japan. He grew up in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His father, Ryōichi Mikitani, was a professor at Kobe University and Chairman of the Japan Society of Monetary Economics. His mother, Setsuko, was a graduate of Kobe University and worked for a trading company. Mikitani claims descent from Honda Tadakatsu, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Family

Hiroshi Mikitani is married to Haruko since 1993 and they have two children.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Career Highlights

Mikitani attended Hitotsubashi University, graduating in 1988 with a degree in commerce. He worked at the Industrial Bank of Japan from 1988 to 1996. He attended Harvard Business School from 1991 to 1993. After leaving banking, he started his own consulting group, Crimson Group.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Companies

Mikitani is the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Inc. He is also the President of Crimson Group and the Chairman of the football club Vissel Kobe. Additionally, he is the Chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and a board member of Lyft.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Major Achievements

Mikitani founded the e-commerce company MDM, Inc. in 1997 with three co-founders and $250,000 of their own money. He launched the online marketplace Rakuten Ichiba in Japan on May 1, 1997. The company was renamed Rakuten, Inc. in 1999 and went public on the JASDAQ in 2000. Rakuten has expanded outside Japan with acquisitions of overseas e-commerce sites, including Buy.com (now Rakuten.com), PriceMinister, Kobo (now Rakuten Kobo), Ebates (now Rakuten Rewards), and Viber (now Rakuten Viber). It has business units including travel, e-books, credit cards, online shopping, banking, and the Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Awards & Achievements

Mikitani has received numerous awards and honors, including the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award (2012), Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (2014), Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (2017), and Spain-Japan Business Contribution Award (2017).

Hiroshi Mikitani: Personal Life & Legacy

Mikitani is a Japanese billionaire business magnate and writer.

He is known for his innovative business strategies and his commitment to globalization. He is also a philanthropist and has donated to various causes, including the Ukrainian government during the Russian invasion.

Hiroshi Mikitani: Trivia

Mikitani implemented "Englishnization" in 2010, making English the primary language of Rakuten within two years. He is also a fan of baseball and owns the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team.

Wealth History

Timeline

March 11, 1965

Hiroshi Mikitani is born in Kobe, Japan.

1988

Hiroshi Mikitani graduates from Hitotsubashi University with a degree in commerce.

1988-1996

Hiroshi Mikitani works at the Industrial Bank of Japan.

1991-1993

Hiroshi Mikitani attends Harvard Business School.

1995

Hiroshi Mikitani purchases Vissel Kobe football club through his company Crimson Group.

1997

Hiroshi Mikitani founds the e-commerce company MDM, Inc. with three co-founders and $250,000 of their own money.

May 1, 1997

Hiroshi Mikitani launches the online marketplace Rakuten Ichiba in Japan.

1999

Hiroshi Mikitani renames the company Rakuten, Inc. and takes it public on the JASDAQ.

2000

Rakuten, Inc. goes public on the JASDAQ.

2001

Hiroshi Mikitani becomes chairman of Rakuten, Inc.

2004

Hiroshi Mikitani joins Keidanren, the Japanese business federation.

2004

Hiroshi Mikitani puts together an expansion team in Sendai, named the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

2005

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles play their inaugural season.

2007

Hiroshi Mikitani publishes his book Principles for Success.

2010

Hiroshi Mikitani implements "Englishnization" in Rakuten, making English the primary language of the company within two years.

2011

Hiroshi Mikitani quits Keidanren due to disagreements over its support for continued reliance on the nuclear industry and reluctance to carry out reforms.

2012

Hiroshi Mikitani launches the Japanese Association of New Economy (JANE).

2012

Hiroshi Mikitani receives the Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award.

2013

The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles win the Japan Series.

2013

Hiroshi Mikitani publishes his book Marketplace 3.0: Rewriting the Rules of Borderless Business.

2014

Hiroshi Mikitani is named Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.

2014

Hiroshi Mikitani publishes his book The Power to Compete: An Economist and an Entrepreneur on Revitalizing Japan in the Global Economy.

2017

Hiroshi Mikitani is named Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

2017

Hiroshi Mikitani is awarded the Spain-Japan Business Contribution Award.

2017

Hiroshi Mikitani co-founds Kosmos Holding with FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué.

2018

Hiroshi Mikitani publishes his book Business-Do: The Way to Successful Leadership.

2018

Kosmos Holding acquires the Davis Cup Tennis property and Spanish Futbol Club FC Andorra.

2022

Hiroshi Mikitani donates ¥1 billion ($8.7 million) to the Ukrainian government to support it during the Russian invasion.

Hiroshi Mikitani : FAQs

What is Hiroshi Mikitani's current net worth?

Hiroshi Mikitani's current net worth is $3.72 billion.

What is Hiroshi Mikitani's current global rank among billionaires?

Hiroshi Mikitani holds the 1130th position globally among billionaires.

What is Hiroshi Mikitani's current ranking within the Japan?

Hiroshi Mikitani holds the 8th position in Japan.

What was the change in Hiroshi Mikitani's net worth compared to the previous year?

Hiroshi Mikitani's net worth decreased by 793.05 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 4.52 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Hiroshi Mikitani's net worth?

Hiroshi Mikitani's net worth decreased by 72.03 million dollars recently, a 1.93% decrease, with his net worth standing at 3.72 billion dollars.

What are Hiroshi Mikitani's main sources of wealth?

Hiroshi Mikitani's main source of income comes from Online Retail.

In which industry does Hiroshi Mikitani primarily operate?

Hiroshi Mikitani is primarily involved in the Fashion & Retail industry.

What is Hiroshi Mikitani educational background?

Hiroshi Mikitani holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.

How old is Hiroshi Mikitani?

Hiroshi Mikitani is 60 years old.

How many children does Hiroshi Mikitani have?

Hiroshi Mikitani has 2 children.

Who is Hiroshi Mikitani and what is he known for?

Hiroshi Mikitani is a Japanese billionaire business magnate, author, and the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Inc. He's also the President of Crimson Group, the Chairman of Vissel Kobe, the Chairman of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and a board member of Lyft.

How did Hiroshi Mikitani start Rakuten and what is its business scope?

Hiroshi Mikitani founded MDM, Inc. in 1997 with three co-founders and started the Rakuten Ichiba online marketplace in May 1997. Rakuten, Inc. now encompasses various business units such as travel, e-books, credit cards, online shopping, banking, and sports teams, including the Rakuten Golden Eagles baseball team.

What was the role of Hiroshi Mikitani in the acquisition and success of sports teams?

Hiroshi Mikitani, through his company Crimson Group, purchased the Vissel Kobe football club and later acquired the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, leading to the baseball team's Japan Series win in 2013.

What significant reforms has Hiroshi Mikitani made within his company Rakuten?

Hiroshi Mikitani implemented 'Englishnization' at Rakuten in 2010, mandating English as the company's primary language to foster a more global environment within two years.

What contributions to society and culture has Hiroshi Mikitani made outside of his business ventures?

Beyond his business achievements, Hiroshi Mikitani is known for his philanthropic efforts, including donating to support Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion, his leadership in arts as Chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and his influence on cultural and economic advancements through writing several books on success and business.
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