Czech businessman Zdenek Bakala has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion as of March 2013 according to Forbes. This banking and mining investor acquired most of his net worth from his massive investments in coal. Over the past year, the value of Bakala's stakes in coal miner New World Resources dropped by 40%. On the other hand, his stakes at Ferrexpo, the company that specializes on producing iron ore, plunged by 13%. In effect, he focuses more of his energy on politics and sports. In addition to these investments, he also a major owner of Omega Pharma Quickstep cycling team.

Zdenek Bakala was born on February 7, 1961 in Opava , Czechoslovakia. After completing his bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley, Zdenek Bakala attended Dartmouth College to obtain his Master of Business Administration degree. He is married to Michaela Malacova, the former Miss Czechoslovakia who currently runs and organizes beauty pageants in Czech Republic.