Alberto Cortina Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

When a Name Becomes Legend: The Story of Alberto Cortina

Alberto Cortina (full name Alberto Cortina de Alcocer), born on January 20, 1947, in Madrid, Spain, has lived a life that intertwines legacy, ambition, and reinvention. His birthday — January 20 — belongs to the early-baby-boom generation that would reshape Spain’s corporate landscape. From the corridors of an aristocratic family to the boardrooms of Europe’s largest construction and energy firms, Cortina’s journey reads like a business epic.

Dynastic Foundations Meet Personal Resolve

Cortina was born into an influential family. His father, Pedro Cortina Mauri, served as Foreign Minister during Spain’s Francoist period, and his maternal grandfather, Alberto Alcocer y Ribacoba, twice served as Mayor of Madrid. 

Educated in law at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Cortina entered adulthood with both pedigree and potential. Yet, what might have remained inheritance became enterprise when he paired up with his cousin Alberto Alcocer — together known in Spain as “Los Albertos.” 

Their collaboration marked the beginning of a transformation: a pivot from aristocratic legacy toward modern corporate power.

The Rise: Building Empires, Forging Influence

The turning point came in 1969. That year, Cortina married Alicia Koplowitz, heiress to the construction firm Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) (founded by her father). Through this alliance, Cortina stepped into the world of big business. 

By 1976, he had become CEO of FCC — at a time when Spain was navigating economic turbulence. Under his and Alcocer’s leadership, FCC underwent aggressive diversification, expanding far beyond construction into finance, banking, and industrial holdings. Over roughly two decades, the firm’s value skyrocketed: from roughly 1,000 million pesetas to over 300,000 million pesetas. 

Their strategy included acquiring significant shares in cement, banking, and other sectors: ventures like Banco Zaragozano, Portland Valderrivas (a cement company), and stakes in banking entities. 

One of their most important moves came in 1998 — gaining a controlling stake in Grupo ACS, which by revenues became one of the largest construction and services companies globally. 

Meanwhile, Cortina and Alcocer controlled various investment vehicles — most notably Alcor Holding (via holding “Percacer”) — used to manage their diversified portfolio across construction, energy, and pulp & paper. 

Reinvention and Legacy: From “Los Albertos” to Global Investor

After divorcing Alicia Koplowitz in 1990, Cortina’s life took several dramatic turns. He later married Elena Cué in 2000. 

With Alcocer, Cortina sold their substantial stake in Banco Zaragozano to Barclays Bank in 2003 — in one of Spain’s most significant banking exits.

Meanwhile, their holdings in Grupo ACS and in the pulp-energy firm Ence remained major pillars of their wealth. 

Cortina’s real estate holdings — including ranches in Toledo, and properties in Madrid and Mallorca — underscore a lifestyle built on long-term value, stability, and discretion. 

What Wealth Looks Like: Net Worth and Influence

According to Forbes’ 2025 billionaire rankings, Alberto Cortina’s net worth stands at around US$1.4 billion. 

That fortune is largely rooted in his diversified investments and longstanding stake in Grupo ACS — itself a global construction and services powerhouse — plus holdings in energy, pulp, banking, and real estate. 

Though not flashy in public life, Cortina’s influence echoes quietly across Spain’s economic history — a testament to long-term strategy, prudent diversification, and reinvention through changing times.

Beyond Business: Philanthropy and Personal Life

In 2012, Alberto Cortina and Elena Cué founded the Alberto and Elena Cortina Foundation. Its goal: to support social causes. Their projects include offering housing, food aid, and assistance to underprivileged children and families — often delivered discreetly and directly to beneficiaries’ homes. 

Cortina is a father of four. His children include sons and daughters from his different marriages. 

Despite the kind of wealth that draws headlines, Cortina has maintained a relatively low public profile — a hallmark, perhaps, of someone who values legacy over limelight.

Why Alberto Cortina Still Matters

Alberto Cortina’s story isn’t just that of inheritance — it’s a blueprint of how strategic vision and adaptability can transform family privilege into enduring enterprise. From catalyzing the growth of one of Spain’s largest construction firms, to building a holding empire, to stabilizing his wealth via diversified assets — Cortina’s moves remind us that long-term thinking, not flash, is often what creates lasting influence.

For contemporary entrepreneurs and legacy-builders alike, his life offers lessons: integrate heritage with hard business acumen; diversify thoughtfully; and let wealth carry purpose.