Spanish Fashion Empire Heir Denies Killing Billionaire Father, Says He Must ‘Demonstrate Innocence’

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 16:45 IST

Mango founder Isak Andic died in a 2024 hiking fall, his son Jonathan denies homicide allegations, calls them "unjust", and resigns as vice president to focus on his legal defense.

The son of the founder of the Mango clothing empire, who was arrested in Spain for allegedly killing his father in 2024, has rejected the accusations while calling them “biased, distorted and taken out of context" to create a “perception of guilt". He also announced his decision to step down from his post of Vice President of the fashion empire.

On December 14, 2024, Isak Andic, the 71-year-old founder of Spanish clothing retailer Mango — one of Europe’s largest fashion groups with nearly 2,800 stores worldwide – died after falling down a ravine while hiking with his son near Barcelona.

According to a report by The Guardian, though an initial investigation by the Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, had regarded it as an accident, officers and judicial sources told El País and La Vanguardia last year that the case was being treated as a possible homicide.

Last week, Jonathan Andic was arrested and later released after posting bail of one million euros ($1.2 million).

AFP quoted Andic calling the allegation “serious, unjust and unfounded", in an open letter to staff published on Tuesday announcing that he will step down as vice president of the fashion giant’s board to focus on his legal defence.

“A public narrative has been created based on a view that is biased, distorted and taken out of context, which has created a perception of guilt that has nothing to do with reality," the 45-year-old said in his first public comment on the case.

“I make this decision sadly, but convinced that it is what’s best for the company and for me… I need to concentrate all my energy on demonstrating my innocence," he said.

Isak, who was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Istanbul in 1953, was one of Spain’s richest men. Forbes estimated he and his family to have a net worth of $4.5 billion. He used to run a wholesale business and sold clothes in street markets before opening his first Mango store in 1984.

Under his watch, to help boost sales the company hired big stars such as British model Kate Moss, Spanish actor Penelope Cruz, and French footballer Antoine Griezmann for its marketing campaigns.

News world Spanish Fashion Empire Heir Denies Killing Billionaire Father, Says He Must ‘Demonstrate Innocence’

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