D aniel Kretinsky is a Czech self-made billionaire with a sprawling and rapidly expanding empire in the energy and retail sectors, earning him the nickname the 'Czech Sphinx' for his shrewd and often opaque deal-making. A lawyer by training, he started his career at a local investment group before striking out on his own. He founded EPH (Energetický a průmyslový holding), his primary investment vehicle, and began acquiring energy assets across Central and Eastern Europe.

He built EPH into one of Europe's largest energy groups by buying up aging coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuel assets that larger utilities were divesting due to environmental pressures. He has since diversified his portfolio aggressively, acquiring major stakes in retail (including a large holding in the French retailer Casino and the German wholesaler Metro), media, and even professional sports, with a significant stake in the English Premier League soccer club West Ham United. He is known for his contrarian bets and his ability to execute complex, cross-border transactions.