Roberto González Barrera facts for kids

Roberto González Barrera (born September 1, 1930 – died August 25, 2012) was a very important Mexican businessman. He was the head of two huge companies: Gruma, which is the world's biggest maker of tortillas and corn flour, and Banorte, the largest private bank owned by Mexicans in Mexico. Because he helped Gruma grow so much, people often called him "El Maseco" or "Don Maseco," which refers to one of Gruma's famous brands. He was also known as the "King of Tortillas."

Early Life and Business Start

Roberto González Barrera was born in a town called Cerralvo, in Nuevo León, Mexico. Even when he was only five years old, before he even started school, he was already selling things like eggs, bread, and vegetables in his hometown. He once wrote that he was very happy as a child and enjoyed making money on the streets.

When he started primary school, he also shined shoes, along with selling food. At age 11, he decided to leave school to work full-time in a grocery warehouse that his father had opened. There, he sold dairy products. By the time he was 15, he had already started his very own business! He remembered his grandfather asking him what he did that made the most money. When Roberto said selling vegetables, his grandfather told him to focus completely on that. This advice really inspired him.

Starting the Tortilla Empire

Later, Roberto González Barrera worked as a driver. He also invested in a small coconut farm, where he earned a good amount of money. However, he got sick with malaria and returned to his hometown with his earnings. Back in Cerralvo, he joined his father's family business and began working on new ideas.

When he was 18, he saw his first corn mill. He was very curious about how tortillas were made. He quickly realized the huge business opportunity when he learned that many workers ate a lot of corn tortillas every month. He imagined a future where he could make and sell these tortillas.

After talking to his father, they bought their first corn mill in 1948. They had to sell all their other businesses to afford it. When they ran out of money, a friend, General Bonifacio Salinas Leal, who was the governor of Nuevo León, lent them money. This is how they started what is now Maseca, a company that makes and sells a huge amount of corn tortillas around the world.

Becoming a Banking Leader

Roberto González Barrera became a very wealthy person not just from tortillas, but also from the Banorte financial group. Since 1992, he was the main owner of Banorte. It was the only big Mexican bank that stayed owned by Mexicans after a financial crisis in 1995. His ownership in Banorte, which became the third largest bank in Mexico, helped him appear on Forbes magazine's list of billionaires.

Roberto González Barrera passed away in Houston, Texas, on August 25, 2012, at the age of 81. He had been battling cancer.

Family and Legacy

Roberto González Barrera's son, Roberto González Sr., was a racecar driver. His grandsons, Ricardo González Valdez and Roberto González Valdez, are also professional racecar drivers, continuing a family tradition of speed and competition.

See also

In Spanish: Roberto González Barrera para niños