Have you ever stopped to think about how a guy with dyslexia, who learned to read and write later in life, became one of the richest entrepreneurs in Brazil? Well, that’s the story of Luciano Hang, the "Old Man of Havan," who has practically become a synonym for retail in the country.

The guy was born in 1962 in Brusque, Santa Catarina, into a family of textile workers. And here begins something interesting: his education was quite different from what we might expect from a billionaire. Luciano Hang faced learning difficulties in childhood due to dyslexia, which significantly delayed his school development. But instead of giving up, he kept studying and eventually took a course in Data Processing at the Regional University of Blumenau. This background in technology and management was fundamental in shaping his later business vision.

The entrepreneurial spirit came early. Even in school, Hang was already selling things. At 17, he joined the Carlos Renaux Textile Factory where his parents worked, and by just 21, he had bought the Santa Cruz Weaving Company. This experience in the textile sector was crucial to understanding how the entire production chain worked.

In 1986, together with Vanderlei de Lima, he opened a small fabric store that gave rise to Havan (the name comes from the combination of the founders’ names). Later, Hang bought out his partner’s stake and went solo. The business evolved, moving beyond just fabrics and becoming a department store offering everything you can imagine.

The expansion happened gradually. 1995 marked the opening of the first branch in Curitiba, 2003 saw the launch of e-commerce, and in 2017, the chain hit the milestone of 100 stores. The stores became known for a very peculiar style, with architecture inspired by the White House and replicas of the Statue of Liberty that practically became the brand’s trademark.

Luciano Hang’s net worth today is estimated at around 3.2 billion dollars, placing him among Brazil’s wealthiest. Most of it comes from Havan, but he also has stakes in shopping malls, energy distributors, and other investments. Interestingly, the company has never gone public on B3, despite being valued at nearly 45 billion reais in 2021. The IPO was postponed several times for strategic reasons.

But what really turned Luciano Hang into a celebrity was the internet. Starting in 2017, he began appearing much more in online campaigns and videos, and that’s when the nickname "Old Man of Havan" exploded on social media. He later admitted that, even though he started out critically, the nickname worked as an incredibly effective marketing strategy for the brand.

In recent years, he also gained visibility for his political positions, publicly supporting recent presidential elections. This generated both support and controversy, further increasing his presence in public debate.

What’s fascinating about Luciano Hang’s journey is how he transformed a small regional business into one of the largest retail chains in the country. Over three decades of history, a unique visual brand recognized throughout Brazil. Regardless of the controversies surrounding his public figure, the guy has definitely left his mark on Brazilian retail.