Owners of a retailing empire that includes Decathlon, one of the world’s largest sporting equipment chains, and Auchan department stores, also known as the “French Walmart.”
Michel Leclercq established Decathlon as a single sporting store in Lille, France, in 1976. His cousin, Gerard Mulliez, worked his way up to CEO of his family’s successful clothing business before founding the Auchan department store in Roubaix, France, in 1961. His family’s holding company, Association Familiale Mulliez, controls a diversified portfolio of retail firms, including Decathlon. Gerard Mulliez retired as the Auchan Group’s CEO in 2006 and was succeeded by his nephew, Vianney Mulliez. Approximately 700 extended members of the Mulliez family share in the family’s $37 billion wealth.
The Mulliez and Leclercq families each own 40 per cent of the Decathlon retail chain, which generates more than $13 billion in sales a year through 1,400 stores in 47 countries. Michel Leclercq’s son, Olivier Leclercq, held leadership roles with Decathlon and its subsidiaries. He currently owns a hospitality and real estate business, operating primarily in the U.S. The Leclercq family is estimated to be worth $6 billion.
