Wealthy Refugee from Albania: Unraveling the Path to Fortune

A Yarn About Samir Mane: The Billionaire Unleashing the Balkan Beast

Strutting through Tirana's swanky Tirana East Gate Mall, Samir Mane, a grin wide as the Adriatic Sea, could pass for just another high-roller strolling on a sunny autumn day. But beneath the polished veneer of his black Lacoste polo and snazzy blue blazer lies a tale of resilience, grit, and shrewd business acumen that's echoed across southeast Europe. This 57-year-old mogul is none other than Albania's first - and only - billionaire, a self-made tycoon with an estimated fortune of $1.4 billion according to Forbes USA.

"This is our flagship project. 100% lease, I'm damn proud to say," Mane exclaims, flaunting a roster of tenants that includes H&M, ZARA, and a few of his ventures: clothing stores, toy shops, consumer electronics outlets, and even the country's first sushi restaurant. From adidas to Burger King, KFC to Swarovski, this sprawling complex is a testament to Mane's market mastery.

A far cry from the 23-year-old refugee who fled Albania's communist regime back in 1991, Mane never imagined his rags-to-riches story could unfold. "I just dreamed of having my own house or car," he admits candidly, his ambition now seemingly limitless.

Today, Balfin Group - Mane's conglomerate empire - operates in ten countries, boasting a net profit of $120 million in 2024 and total revenue of $880 million. That's a whopping 31% and 14% increase in profit and revenue, respectively, from the year before. Retail accounts for a hefty 62% of their revenue, real estate 20%, while banking services, logistics, and asset management make up the rest. Needless to say, Mane is fiercely protective of his projects partnering only in his mall, retail chains, and constructions.

Turning Tirana into his playground, Mane's influence is everywhere. He's the owner of Tirana Bank, the fifth largest in the country, the mastermind behind the largest electronics store chain Neptun, and until recently, he was the top dog of Albania's largest network of supermarkets - a sale netting him a cool $48 million in March. Chauffeured around in a black sports SUV Mercedes-Maybach, you can find Mane perusing his luxurious Rolling Hills residential complex, a sprawling neoclassical villa spanning over 3000 sq. m, his turf marked by the Skanderbeg mountain range.

"I bought the plot in 2008, it was very cheap at the time," Mane recalls, surveying the 153 villas in this residential paradise. The value of this land has skyrocketed, and Mane has been actively developing it. His latest endeavor, Collina Verde, is just one of a litany of projects in the works, with a breathtaking $240 million complex on the shores of an artificial lake slated for completion in 2028.

Mane's domain extends beyond Albania's borders, encompassing shopping centers in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, including Skopje's East Gate - the largest shopping center in North Macedonia. He even ventures into residential and office complexes in Austria and Canada, as well as in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Delving into the world of business, Mane follows in the footsteps of titans like former General Electric CEO Jack Welch and Walmart founder Sam Walton. "Diversify," Welch said, and Mane heeded the call. As a small nation, Albania offered few opportunities, so Mane set his sights on greener pastures in other countries and industries.

Reflecting on his beginnings, Mane remembers his student days in communist Albania, where opportunities were scarce. To earn some coin, he peddled meatballs to fellow students, but his venture was short-lived. 'Authority' representatives soon swooped in, snuffing out his plans. After six months of living as a refugee in Austria, he enrolled in the Vienna Technical University to complete a geology course. But when Albania loosened its grip, Mane saw a golden opportunity to sell electronics from Austria to his homeland - and so Alba-Trade was born.

Mane built an empire from the ground up, sourcing goods from Asia and establishing himself as a go-to supplier for household appliances in the Western Balkans. He went even bolder in 2005, relocating his family from Vienna to Tirana and opening Albania's first shopping center on the outskirts of the capital. To anchor his new platform, Mane needed a supermarket, so he took on the challenge of opening one himself, recruiting a Carrefour Frenchman and building the first modern supermarket in Albania.

The skepticism was deafening, but Mane pressed on. "They would say, 'Mr. Mane, we see the GDP figures. It's not interesting,'" he recalls. It took a cajoling European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to provide $15 million in loans and equity, and on October 2005, the Universal Trade Center unveiled its doors, welcoming the masses to Neptun and Euromax supermarkets.

Today, scrutiny tires not Mane's empire. In October 2021, a special Albanian prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for ex-president Ilir Meta, who was charged with corruption. Mane, however, is not accused of any wrongdoing and categorically denies any improprieties. Regardless, Mane remains steadfast in his commitment to steer clear of politics and eschew corruption amidst Albania's harsh economic landscape, proving that business acumen and ethical conducting aren't mutually exclusive.

Looking ahead, Mane eyes his home country as a fertile ground for future growth, focusing on international tourism as the key to unlocking its potential. The Green Coast premium real estate complex on Albania's Adriatic coast is set to welcome world-renowned hotel brands like Accor, Gran Meliá, Hyatt, and 2,600 villas and apartments. With the first phase of the project already underway, Mane expects to rake in nearly $150 million from the sale of plots alone.

Yet, Mane isn't the only one with dreams of Albania's untouched Mediterranean coastline. UAE real estate magnate Mohamed Alabbar and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, are working on their own projects in the area. Mane embraces competition, seeing it as a boon for Albania's economy. "The more foreign visitors, the more customers in my retail stores and more potential buyers for my villas," he asserts.

Mane's story is one of ambition, transformation, and the indomitable power of the human spirit. A testament to success inpolitics, Albania has a new icon to inspire generations.

Samir Mane's grin was as wide as the Adriatic Sea as he strolled through Tirana's Tirana East Gate Mall, a jumbo complex that bore testament to his market mastery in the retail industry.
Mane's Balfin Group, a self-made tycoon's conglomerate empire, operates in ten countries, with a net profit of $120 million in 2024 and total revenue of $880 million, a significant 31% and 14% increase from the previous year.
Mane, Albania's first billionaire, envisioned himself owning a house or car in his younger days, but his ambition now seems limitless, reflecting his grit and shrewd business acumen.
Mane's real-estate ventures extend beyond Albania's borders, with a breathtaking $240 million complex on the shores of an artificial lake slated for completion in 2028, and shopping centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Austria, Canada, New York, and New Jersey.
Mane's empire resembles those of industry titans like Jack Welch and Sam Walton, with a diversified portfolio that includes retail, banking services, logistics, and asset management.
Despite controversy surrounding Albania's former president, Mane remains focused on his business endeavors, particularly in the tourism sector, with the Green Coast premium real-estate complex set to attract world-renowned hotel brands and generate $150 million from the sale of plots alone.