Alberto Cortina de Alcocer, born on January 20, 1947, in Madrid, Spain, is an influential Spanish billionaire businessman known for his decades in high-stakes finance. He comes from a family with deep political and civic ties: his father was Pedro Cortina Mauri, the Foreign Minister during the Francoist dictatorship, and his grandfather was a former Mayor of Madrid.

Cortina received a rigorous legal education, graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in Law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. This legal expertise was crucial for navigating the complex mergers and corporate battles that would define his career. His ascent to the center of Spanish corporate power began in 1969 when he married Alicia Koplowitz, one of Spain's wealthiest heiresses, directly linking him to a vast industrial fortune.

Alberto Cortina’s career is famously intertwined with his cousin, Alberto Alcocer, creating the notorious Spanish business duo known simply as 'Los Albertos'. Starting in 1969, they began working at the construction company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), inherited by their wives (Alicia and Esther Koplowitz). They quickly rose, with Cortina becoming the CEO in 1976.

Under 'Los Albertos', FCC underwent a period of 'never before tried diversification', expanding far beyond its core construction business into banking, media, and services, greatly increasing its value despite the Spanish economic crisis of the 1970s and 80s. However, their partnership dissolved in 1991 due to personal scandals, leading to their departure from FCC. Retaining significant capital, they immediately moved into banking, running Banco Zaragozano and later selling their stake to Barclays in 2004 for over $2 billion. Cortina continues to manage his fortune through his holding companies, demonstrating immense resilience and financial acumen.

Alberto Cortina’s philanthropic commitment is channeled through the 'Alberto and Elena Cortina Foundation', which he co-founded with his current wife, Elena Cué, in 2011. The foundation focuses on direct, practical aid to victims of social hardship, both domestically and internationally.

• Disaster and Social Aid: The foundation quickly moved to help victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, distributing food and reconstructing homes.
• Addressing Poverty: Domestically, the foundation provides assistance to women at risk of 'social exclusion' and runs an 'invisible kitchen service' that delivers food and basic supplies to families in need at their homes.
• Economic Development: His subsequent investments, such as founding the Banque de Dakar, are aimed at driving economic development in West Africa.

This dedication to social projects that have a direct, tangible impact on vulnerable populations defines his humanitarian legacy.