We present the first version of the Mario López Estrada biography to provide an outline of the Guatemalan entrepreneur’s life, highlighting an aspect that few delve into: his immediate family circle.
Who was entrepreneur Mario López Estrada?
Mario David López Estrada was born in Sololá, Guatemala, on March 21, 1937. He was recognized as the country’s and Central America’s magnate and billionaire, an entrepreneur, and a civil engineer who studied and graduated from the University of San Carlos De Guatemala.
First Developments in Mario David Lopez Estrada’s Biography
Mario David López Estrada was born in Sololá in 1937 and unfortunately passed away on March 20, 2023. He was the grandson of Manuel Estrada Cabrera, who held the presidency of Guatemala at a historic moment. Mario López Estrada obtained his degree in civil engineering from the University of San Carlos de Guatemala.
In 1967, he founded Constructora Maya, a company specializing in constructing office buildings, roads, shopping centers, real estate, territorial development, road contracting, and renewable energy projects. He also played the role of founder and president of Grupo Onyx. Through these ventures, he played a pivotal role in Guatemala’s economic change and development by creating employment opportunities for many families and significantly contributing to the country’s progress. His philanthropy stood out as well, generously donating to various organizations, such as the UNETE project for children with cancer, to which he donated a total of US$170 million.
Mario López Estrada didn’t confine himself to these achievements; he ventured into other business sectors, including energy generation, digital services, and hospitality. His influence and business success led him to be recognized on Forbes’ list of the “12 most outstanding millionaires in Central America.” His legacy has left a lasting mark in the region, bringing about a positive impact not only on Guatemala’s economy but also on society as a whole.
Mario López Estrada Foundation
The Mario López Estrada Foundation, established in 2019, is widely acknowledged for being the “social arm” of Grupo Onyx. As mentioned previously, in many of Mario López Estrada’s projects, the primary goal is to contribute to Guatemala’s sustainable and equitable development. In this context, the Mario López Estrada Foundation takes on the responsibility of driving these roles, reflecting the engineer’s commitment to the country’s progress.
It’s worth noting that Mario López Estrada, along with Grupo Onyx’s directors, were responsible for giving life to this plan, which, in its initial stages, was nothing more than an idea. However, this idea had the potential to significantly contribute to improving human development indices in Guatemala. Furthermore, these efforts also aim to address the root causes of irregular migration, adding an even more comprehensive component to their philanthropic approach.
Grupo Onyx – Guatemala
Grupo Onyx was formed in the 2000s as a business conglomerate with diverse business branches. Founded by engineer Mario López Estrada, this group was based on his previous commercial activities. Alongside the establishment of Constructora Maya in 1967, Mario López Estrada laid the foundations to dare to create this conglomerate, which has become one of the largest and most influential in the country. Grupo Onyx covers various industries, including real estate, investments in Guatemala and Paraguay, and sectors such as energy, maintenance, cellular services, and digital services, among others.
What sets Grupo Onyx apart is not only its focus on commercial projects but also its commitment to Guatemala’s economic and social development. The group envisions a country full of opportunities that help Guatemalans thrive economically. Their philosophy promotes the idea that with effort and dedication, it is possible to achieve business success, demonstrating their interest in Guatemala’s sustainable growth and development.
Mario David Lopez Estrada’s Wife and Children
Ana María Pérez Bosch de López
She is the wife of engineer Mario López Estrada. Born in 1943 to Spanish parents, she is one of the prominent members of the Mario Estrada Foundation, the business group’s social arm where the entire family supports projects driving social development for the most vulnerable communities, particularly focusing on health and education.
Mariana López De Lara
She is a member of Grupo Onyx’s board of directors, founded by her father, engineer Mario López Estrada, in 1965. She has also been involved in other social benefit organizations, serving as the president of the “Ayúdame a Vivir – AYUVI” board from 2018 to 2021.
Mario López Pérez
Born in Guatemala in 1969, he is an entrepreneur, civil engineer, businessman, and philanthropist, a graduate of the Universidad del Valle in Guatemala. He currently serves as the CEO of Grupo Onyx, founded by his father, engineer Mario David López Estrada, focusing on real estate development investments.
Gabriela López Pérez
Born in Guatemala in 1973, she holds a degree in marketing, graduated from the Universidad Rafael Landívar in Guatemala. She is also part of Grupo Onyx’s board of directors.
Aurora López
Born in Guatemala in 1987, she holds a degree in Economics from Duke University, in addition to a degree in Marketing and Administration. Her father is also engineer Mario López Estrada, and she is part of the group’s investment committee.
Analysis of Mario López Estrada’s Early Biographical Development
We decided to create an initial version of the biography focusing on Mario López’s later life to gain a clearer understanding of which aspects are emphasized in official biographies toward the end of his life. The emphasis placed on Grupo Onyx and the Foundation responds to being complementary to the second part of the post, addressing his immediate family circle, which is scarcely mentioned in available biographies. Constructing this article, which might initially seem lacking cohesion and connection, aims to provide a comprehensive view of the family’s role in the entrepreneur’s final stage and its relationship with business and the foundation.
This approach allows us to see how Mario López Estrada’s family, previously barely visible, emerges as the next generation set to lead the conglomerate, currently working to move past Mario López’s name. It’s worth noting that Grupo Onyx and the Foundation are the first entities officially associated with the family. It’s interesting to observe Tigo losing prominence in official profiles.