Businessman Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal is the sixth richest man in Mexico with a fortune of 4.6 billion dollars thanks to the fact that he founded and leads Jose Cuervo, the oldest tequila distillery in the world; while worldwide, the Mexican is in position 686 of billionaires, according to the 2024 ranking of Forbes magazine.
In 2020, he was decorated by the Congress of Jalisco due to his career and his drive not only to the tequila industry and the agave landscape at a national and international level, but also for its promotion of culture, education and tourism, “it has been a valuable economic actor for investment and job creation in our state. “He has become an important promoter of tourism and producer of tequila at the national and international level,” Councilor Ismael Espanta said then.
According to the specialized portal Statistahe best-selling tequila in the world It is precisely José Cuervo, in addition to being the most sold alcoholic beverage in the United Statessince in 2020 alone it sold 4.81 million nine-liter boxes, while 35.5 million worldwide.
However, the fortune of Juan Francisco Beckmann Vidal and his heirs is not limited only to the distillation of agave, but they have also diversified their investments in the production of whiskey and vodka; in accordance with Bloomberghis family also has two luxury hotels in Jalisco (Villa Tequila and Solar Las Ánimas), a cultural center in Tequila and operates a train tour (José Cuervo Exprés) that runs through important areas where agave is grown.
In addition to the hotels in Jalisco, Beckmann has expanded its real estate business to the United States, since said media reported a few days ago that Agave Holdings, a company funded entirely by his family, has been acquiring major properties in three states. According to media estimates, these would add up to about 464,515 square meters and include:
- The complex The Plaza Coral Gablesin Miamiwhich will serve as office for applealthough it is mixed use and will also have shops and residences
- 396 Alhambraalso in the Coral Gables area, which will be the FIFA headquarters during the 2026 Soccer World Cup that the United States Organizes together with Mexico and Canada
- In Chicago has two office towers and a 93 room hotel in Minneapolis
“Beckmann wants to maximize square meters as part of a long term strategy for future generations (…) In 15 years everything has been reinvested in Agave (Holdings), a cent has never been taken out of the company,” he explained to Bloomberg José Antonio Pérez, lawyer of the firm.
Said media detailed that Beckmann has purchased these lands and properties at a time when the real estate market was experiencing difficulties and prices had not skyrocketed or were in the middle of foreclosures, in the case of Miami. However, the businessman is confident that the sector will soon recover.
