Leszek Czarnecki
Finance

Leszek Czarnecki Net Worth

Leszek Czarnecki, born in Poland on May 09, 1962, is an economics PhD and successful entrepreneur. He made his first fortune creating Poland's largest leasing company, which he listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2000 and sold to French bank Credit Agricole for $280 million a year later. Despite the recent devaluation of Poland's currency and the hard hit his bank assets have taken due to Switzerland's decision to allow its currency to appreciate, Czarnecki continues to look for bank deals, eyeing Alior Bank as his next bid. In 2009, he also beat a world record in cave diving, swimming 10.5 miles in underground corridors over the course of 10 hours.
Leszek Czarnecki is a member of Finance

Age, Biography and Wiki

Birth Day May 09, 1962
Birth Place Poland
Age 61 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Gemini
Residence Malta
Occupation businessman
Spouse(s) Married, 2 children

💰 Net worth: $1.25 Billion (2024)

Leszek Czarnecki, a prominent figure in the finance industry, has amassed an estimated net worth of $1.25 billion as of 2024. Hailing from Poland, Czarnecki is well-known and respected for his outstanding contributions to the financial sector. Over the years, he has demonstrated immense expertise and skill, which has undoubtedly played a significant role in his accumulation of wealth. With a reputation as a finance genius in Poland, Czarnecki's net worth serves as a testament to his remarkable success and influence in the industry.

2010 $1.4 Billion
2011 $2 Billion
2012 $1.3 Billion
2013 $1.4 Billion
2014 $2.4 Billion
2015 $1.25 Billion
2018 $1.25 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1980

Getting his licence at the age of 22, in the early 1980s, Leszek Czarnecki was one of the youngest diving instructors in Poland. In 1986, his passion for cave diving led him to set up his first commercial diving company —Przedsiębiorstwo Techniki Alpinistyczno-Nurkowej TAN S.A. In 1986–1990, he worked as a professional diver (with heavy diving equipment for underwater works). Diving is still his passion. He holds two – Polish and world – records. In September 2003, he beat the Polish record diving to 194 m in Boesmansgat cave in South Africa. The decompression lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes, at a water temperature of 16 °C. He was assisted by Nuno Gomes who holds two deep sea diving records – in the open sea he dived to 318.25 metres, and in caves – to 283 metres. In Mexico, Leszek Czarnecki beat the world record in the longest distance covered in the caverns – 17 km in the system of water-filled caves Dos Ojos on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. In 2006, he took part in a North Pole expedition, and in a Bikini Atoll expedition to explore the wrecks. In 2007, he went on a trip across Siberian wilderness with diving in Lake Baikal, in 2008 – he went to Antarctica, and in 2010 – explored wrecks in the Truck Lagoon in Micronesia (where he dived several times), and in Galapagos.

1986

In 1986, his passion for cave diving led him to set up a commercial diving company — Przedsiębiorstwo Hydrotechniki i Inżynierii TAN. He was the creator and main shareholder of Europejski Fundusz Leasingowy (European Leasing Fund) which he set up in 1991. This was the first and, eventually, the largest lease company in Poland. In 2001, he sold it to the French bank Credit Agricole for PLN 900 million, and became the CEO of Credit Agricole Poland. At that time, he was also managing other group’s companies, such as EFL, Lukas Bank, TU Europa, TU na Życie Europa, and Getin Service Provider S.A.

1993

In 1993–1995, he was the deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and later the CEO of Polbank S.A. (GMAC Bank). In 1996-1997, Leszek Czarnecki was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of an insurance company based in Wrocław TU Europa na Życie S.A, and in 1997 he became the CEO of TU Europa S.A. and TU Europa na Życie S.A. for the next two years.

1998

In 1998, Leszek Czarneci was granted the Wall Street Journal award for the Best CEO in Central Europe, as one of the 10 renowned businessmen in the region. In the same year, he also won the global finals of the Young Business Achiever, a contest that is held in Beijing.

2002

In 2002-2003, he was the CEO and managing Director responsible for leasing and insurance at Credit Agricole Poland. Until the end of November 2004, he was the CEO of Getin Holding, and until May 2006 CEO of Getin Bank.

2004

In October 2004, Leszek Czarnecki joined the honorary members of the Polish Association of Lease Companies, and in November he was included in the group of four individuals recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year from Eastern Europe by INSEAD, one of the best Business universities in Europe, and the French Minister of Finance. In September 2005, he received the prestigious Lesław Paga award honouring his achievements and personal contribution to the development of the financial services market in Poland.

2007

Since June 2007, he has been the Chairman of Getin Holding’s Supervisory Board and a member of the Supervisory Boards of other companies belonging to the Getin Holding Group. Since the merger of Getin Bank with Noble Bank (January 2010), he has been the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Getin Noble Bank. In 2006-2006, for €17.5 million, he purchased Poltegor Centre in 2005-2006, built in the mid-1970s in the city centre of Wrocław, and at that time the city’s tallest building. In place of the demolished building, Czarnecki, along with the investor LC Corp, built Sky Tower.

2008

Two children from a previous marriage. Since 2008, married to Jolanta Pieńkowska. He holds a pilot’s licence.

2009

In 2009, he instituted the first meeting of ‘Entrepreneurship – Initiative of Leszek Czarnecki’ – a series of debates held by leading schools of economics where Mr Czarnecki shared his knowledge and experience with students. In the same year, Leszek Czarnecki launched a contest named 'Studying, working, managing' aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs by financing laureates' Business ideas. The third edition finished in 2012. Leszek Czarnecki is proud to have established the charity foundation of Jolanta and Leszek Czarneccy, previously called LC Heart, which commenced its activities in Wrocław in 2007. So far, he has personally transferred PLN 55 million to the foundation. It is focused on levelling opportunities for children and youth.

2010

In 2010, he won the Entrepreneur of the Year title in the opinion poll organised by the Polish Employers Organisation and Puls Biznesu. In 2011, he was recognised as the Business Leader of the Year by the Warsaw Business Journal.

2012

The St. Antony's College Oxford Noble Foundation was established in October 2012 inaugurating the Contemporary Polish Studies Programme at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The Programme is the first of its kind implemented abroad – an interdisciplinary study programme devoted to Poland and its post-1989 transformation. The programme operates within St. Antony’s College. The Oxford Programme’s founders and affiliates are Prof. Timothy Garton Ash and Prof. Norman Davies, as well as Prof. Margaret MacMillan, Warden of St. Antony’s College. On the Polish side the founder is Dr Leszek Czarnecki who with Getin Noble Bank donated PLN 6 million to the programme. Honorary Programme Patrons are the former Prime Minister of Poland Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Prof. Zbigniew Pełczyński.

2013

In 2013, he was awarded the special award of the Warsaw Stock Exchange for his passionate and determined creation of new economic projects and visionary leadership in Business in the public market.

2014

In 2014, Leszek Czarnecki was recognised by the editorial team of the WSE magazine GG Parkiet as the man of the capital market on the 25th anniversary of the democratic changes in Poland.

Some Leszek Czarnecki images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.