Have you ever stopped to think about the story behind the 'Old Man of Havan'? Luciano Hang is much more than that businessman who became a meme on the internet. The owner of Havan built a retail empire that now moves billions, and his journey is like a true case of Brazilian entrepreneurship.

It all started in Brusque, Santa Catarina, in 1962. Hang grew up in a family of textile workers but faced dyslexia in childhood — he learned to read and write later. Even so, he studied Data Processing and was working in a fabric factory by the age of 17. At 21, he bought Tecelagem Santa Cruz. This industrial background was crucial to understanding how the supply chain worked.

In 1986, together with Vanderlei de Lima, he opened the first fabric store that became Havan (the name came from the combination of the two). Hang later bought out his partner’s stake and ran it alone. The model quickly evolved — from fabrics to a department store selling everything: appliances, fashion, toys, home decor.

The expansion was gradual but steady. In 1989, they moved to a larger headquarters, in 1995 the first branch in Curitiba, and in 2003 the launch of e-commerce. By 2017, there were 100 stores. The stores became famous for their unique architectural style — replicas of the White House and Statue of Liberty. It became a trademark.

The fortune of the owner of Havan reached impressive levels. According to Forbes, Hang’s net worth is around US$ 3.2 billion, placing him among Brazil’s wealthiest. Besides the retail chain, he has stakes in shopping malls, energy distributors, and media. Despite the huge revenue, the company has never gone public on B3 — in 2021, they speculated a valuation of R$ 45 billion, but the IPO never materialized.

What boosted his visibility even more was his presence on social media. Starting in 2017, Hang began appearing more in campaigns and videos. The nickname 'Old Man of Havan,' which started as criticism, turned into a powerful marketing strategy. The businessman himself admitted it worked.

In recent years, Hang also became known for his political stance — publicly supporting in 2018 and 2022. This further amplified discussions about his figure, generating both support and criticism.

The truth is that in over three decades, the owner of Havan transformed a small regional business into a nationally recognized chain. Regardless of controversies, Luciano Hang is one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Brazilian retail — and the fortune he accumulated reflects exactly that.