Mario Moretti Polegato is an Italian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Chairman of Geox S.p.A. (BIT: GEO), a global leader in breathable footwear and apparel. His career is rooted in entrepreneurial ingenuity and technological innovation (solving a common comfort problem).

Polegato's philosophical approach centers on technological differentiation, scale manufacturing, and long-term brand building. The idea for Geox came to him in 1990 while hiking in the Nevada desert—he cut holes in his rubber shoes to cool his feet, recognizing the immense, untapped market for breathable footwear.

• Geox S.p.A. (Founder & Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in breathable footwear and apparel (famous for the 'shoe that breathes' technology).
• Technological Pioneer: He invented and patented the breathable rubber sole (a structural innovation).
• Academic Background: He studied Winemaking in Italy (a family tradition) before pivoting to footwear.
• Investment Strategy: His success is built on R&D intensity and leveraging intellectual property (IP) to dominate the global footwear market.

Mario Moretti Polegato's strategic genius was his commitment to solving a consumer pain point with technology. He secured the patent for the breathable rubber sole and founded Geox in 1995. Under his leadership as Chairman, the company expanded aggressively through scale manufacturing and global retail distribution. He successfully executed the company's IPO on the Milan Stock Exchange (BIT).

His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the breathable footwear category and driving technological innovation in the global apparel and footwear sector. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global footwear and retail market.

Mario Moretti Polegato's social impact is structural, stemming from Geox's role as a massive global employer and provider of innovative, comfortable footwear for millions of consumers. His commitment to R&D and patents advances technological innovation in the apparel sector. His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization of IP-driven consumer goods.

Mario Moretti Polegato maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global retail sector.

Residing in Treviso, Italy, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion euro fortune. His life is dedicated to retail innovation, brand management, and intellectual property governance.