In Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, the tiny village of Cerezales del Condado begins a new life. 80 people who live in this village became millionaires in one night. All thanks to the generosity of one person.
This person’s name is Antonino Fernandez. He was CEO of Grupo Modelo, a Mexican company that owns the Corona beer brand. He died in August 2016, at the age of 99. The billionaire wanted to give part of his fortune to the village in which he grew up and in which his childhood memories remained.
Working hard at the company, he took over as CEO
Born in poverty in 1917, the eleventh of thirteen children in a large family, he was forced to leave school at age 14 because his parents could not afford to pay for his education. After the Spanish Civil War, he moved to Leon, a little further north, where he married Chinia Gonzalez Dies.
This union changed his life, because his wife was none other than the niece of the owner of Grupo Modelo. In 1949, the couple went to Mexico to settle there, and Antonino Fernandez begins working for the company. Working in the shadows and progressing in the ranks of society, he came to the position of Director General in 1971.
Under his leadership, the brand of the drink gained high popularity, and he became a billionaire
Under his reign, the Corona beer brand has become Mexico's most popular and huge export product worldwide. He remained CEO until 1997 and held a seat on the company's board of directors until 2005, when he was succeeded by his nephew Carlos Fernandez González. Subsequently, he remained an honorary member of the board of directors until his death.
The brand became the second largest import beer brand in the United States and generated nearly $ 693 million in revenue annually. Antonino Fernandez died as an honored billionaire and philanthropist. Despite his wealth, he never forgot where he came from.
He never forgot about the village in which he spent his childhood
During his life, he had already acted for the good of his village. Revered by the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, for his charitable activities, Antonino Fernandez proved himself by creating in 2009 with his wife a fund to support rural initiatives in the region and became its patron. He also encouraged the employment of people with disabilities in Spain and Mexico, creating an organization in this area.
Thanks to his generosity, the villagers are now millionaires
After his death, Antonio left a total of 169 million euros to the village of Cerezales del Condado. In other words, every resident of the village received a little more than 2 million euros.
The only bartender in the village, Maximino Sanchez, said he never had enough money, and he does not know what he would do if it were not for the generosity of Antonio Fernandez. Recognizing the incredible generosity of the late billionaire, the villagers intend to use this money consciously in the interests of their community. Indeed, a cultural center will be built in the village, which will house a non-profit association, and about 300 people will be able to work here.