Michel Leclercq

Michel Leclercq is a French billionaire businessman. He is the founder and 40% owner of Decathlon Group, the world’s largest sporting goods retailer.

  • Michel Leclercq set up a small sporting goods store called Decathlon in 1976.
  • It’s now one of the world’s largest athletic retailers with more than $13 billion in sales from more than 1,400 stores in 47 countries.
  • Leclercq is cousin of Gerard Mulliez, the patriarch of the famed French retail dynasty behind Auchan department stores.
  • Leclerq and his immediate family own 40% of the company while the extended Mulliez family have another 40%.