Daniel Kretinsky built his fortune through energy and investment deals, first inside J&T and then through EPH and EP Group, while using a substantial institutional platform and partner capital during the business's formation. [1][2][3]
His investment career began inside an established financial group
EPH's historical reporting says an investment team within J&T was created in 2001 under Kretinsky's leadership. Forbes says he had trained as a lawyer and later became the owner and operator associated with the energy group that became his principal wealth source. [1][2]
EPH says the holding company was established in 2009 as a partnership involving J&T, PPF and Kretinsky, with selected energy assets previously acquired by J&T contributed to the new group. That gave him a substantial institutional and asset platform at formation. [1]
The same history shows EPH expanding rapidly through power generation, heating, gas infrastructure and other energy assets across Central Europe. Kretinsky's role therefore combined outside partner capital with active dealmaking and operating control. [1]
He later consolidated control and diversified beyond energy
Forbes describes Kretinsky as the owner and operator of EPH and also records investments in retail, media and public companies. EP Group now holds interests across energy, logistics, wholesale and retail, media, e-commerce and real estate. [2][3]
The reviewed evidence supports substantial self-created scale but also a meaningful early capital and asset platform supplied by J&T and PPF. Kretinsky's fortune was not inherited, yet his starting position was materially stronger than a founder financing a business from personal savings alone. [1][3]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Sep 22, 2026.
- EPH Sustainability Report 2016 · Energeticky a prumyslovy holding · Jun 30, 2017
- Daniel Kretinsky · Forbes · Mar 10, 2026
- EP Group Factsheet · EP Group · Oct 30, 2025
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