Mate Rimac

Mate Rimac is a Croatian entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor best known as the founder and CEO of the Rimac Group, a global automotive technology powerhouse that now owns Bugatti Automobiles. Born in Livno in 1988, he has grown into a defining figure in the electric vehicle revolution, transforming a small garage project into a multinational engineering empire. His company serves as a critical supplier of high-voltage battery systems and powertrain components to major global brands, including Porsche, Hyundai, Kia, Jaguar, and Aston Martin.

Today, Rimac leads the joint venture Bugatti Rimac, overseeing the integration of hypercar heritage with cutting-edge electrification. His flagship production model, the Nevera, established new benchmarks for performance upon its launch in 2022, proving that electric hypercars could outperform their combustion counterparts. Despite receiving numerous lucrative offers to relocate his operations to more traditional automotive hubs abroad, he steadfastly maintained the company headquarters in Sveta Nedelja, Croatia. This decision underscores his unique role as a national icon committed to establishing the country as a central hub for advanced manufacturing and technological innovation.[edit]

Rimac was born on February 12, 1988, in Livno, which was then part of Yugoslavia, and moved to Croatia shortly after. His father, Ivan Rimac, worked as a mechanic, providing Mate with early access to tools and engines that sparked a deep fascination with how machines worked. He attended high school in Split, where he demonstrated exceptional talent in electronics, winning several national competitions before graduating. These early victories hinted at the technical prowess that would later define his professional life.

The pivotal moment in his pre-fame years occurred when he was just 19 years old. While still a student, he converted a 1984 BMW E30 into a fully electric vehicle in his family garage. This project took three years to complete and involved significant engineering challenges that he overcame through self-taught skills. The resulting car shattered multiple world records for speed and efficiency, catching the attention of the local community. Although he enrolled at the University of Zagreb, he eventually left before completing his degree to focus full-time on his growing business ventures, prioritizing the needs of his startup over academic requirements. He repaired his first car using only tools found in his father's workshop during these teenage years, setting the stage for his future innovations.[edit]

In 2007, Rimac founded Greyp Bikes, a company dedicated to producing high-performance electric bicycles. This venture proved successful enough that Porsche AG acquired the company in 2016, rebranding it as Porsche eBike Performance GmbH. Building on this momentum, he established Rimac Automobili in Sveta Nedelja, Croatia, in 2009 with a small team focused on developing electric hypercars. Three years later, in 2012, the company unveiled the Concept One, the first all-electric supercar produced by Rimac, marking a major breakthrough in high-performance EV engineering.

Major industry validation arrived in 2015 when Porsche AG secured a significant investment in the company. This partnership enabled substantial expansion and led to the creation of the Rimac Technology division. By 2020, the workforce had grown to over 1,000 employees, and the division began supplying critical EV technology to a wide range of brands including Hyundai, Kia, Renault, Jaguar, Aston Martin, SEAT, Koenigsegg, and Pininfarina. In 2017, he was named Croatian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young and included in Forbes' "Top 30 Under 30" list globally. In 2021, the company announced the acquisition of Bugatti Automobiles, forming the joint venture Bugatti Rimac with Rimac serving as CEO. The following year, they launched the Nevera, a production electric hypercapable of accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 1.81 seconds, setting multiple performance records. As of 2026, he continues to lead the combined entity while maintaining his headquarters in Croatia.[edit]

Rimac is portrayed in media as a tech-savvy, humble innovator with a strong sense of national pride. He avoids celebrity culture and rarely appears in fashion contexts or social circles outside of business events. His public persona focuses on engineering excellence and industrial development rather than personal glamour. He is known for being approachable yet serious about his work, often engaging directly with fans and industry peers on technical topics. His decision to keep the company headquarters in Croatia despite international offers has earned him respect as a patriot committed to his country's economic growth. He speaks four languages fluently: Croatian, English, German, and Italian, further enhancing his ability to connect with a global audience while remaining grounded in his local identity.[edit]

iFANN has not yet collected fame data for Mate Rimac. He is not on the September 2026 iFAMOUS Rankings flagship list. While there is no formal fandom name documented, his supporters, often referred to as EV enthusiasts or Rimac fans, actively follow his work on social media and attend product launches. Fan campaigns have included charity drives in his name and digital petitions supporting Croatian manufacturing initiatives. The community celebrates his achievements in electric mobility and his role in putting Croatia on the map for high-end automotive engineering. His Instagram account (@materimac) boasts over 200,000 followers, where he shares updates on company milestones and behind-the-scenes content, fostering a direct connection with his audience.[edit]

One of the most famous stories involving Rimac occurred in January 2026 when a thief stole one of his Bugatti Chiron models from the factory because he had accidentally left the keys inside. Instead of calling the police immediately, Rimac pursued the thief in his Porsche 911 across the border into Austria. After recovering the vehicle, he offered the apprehended thief a ride home, citing the importance of safety and de-escalation. This incident became a viral story and highlighted his hands-on leadership style. Rimac was ranked #9 among top automotive leaders by Motor Trend in 2025 and featured in TIME's "100 Most Influential People" list in 2023.

Despite his immense wealth, he maintains a modest lifestyle and commutes to work daily rather than living in luxury apartments near the factory. He also repaired his first car using only tools found in his father's workshop during his teenage years. The conversion of the 1984 BMW E30 remains a foundational story he often references as his first big risk. He was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska for outstanding contributions to the Croatian economy and technology. His quotes, such as "Europe can't beat China at its own game," reflect his strategic vision for global EV competition.[edit]

Mate Rimac was raised in Croatia by his father, Ivan Rimac, a mechanic whose trade deeply influenced Mate's interest in vehicles and mechanics. He has maintained a relatively private family life compared to other high-profile entrepreneurs, often shielding his personal history from the media spotlight. Rimac lives in Croatia and values his connection to his hometown and family roots, frequently citing his upbringing as the foundation of his work ethic. He stands approximately 1.83 meters (6 feet 0 inches) tall and maintains a modest lifestyle despite his immense wealth, commuting to work daily rather than living in luxury apartments near the factory. His commitment to his country is reflected in his refusal to move his business operations abroad, keeping his family and professional life anchored in his native land.[edit]

Katarina Lovrić (wife), Ivan Rimac (father), Porsche AG executives, Henrik Fisker, Christian von Koenigsegg. [edit]

Mate Rimac has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his rise to prominence. Prior to his marriage, there were no widely documented romantic relationships that received public attention. His focus remained largely on his professional achievements and the growth of his companies. In 2021, he married Katarina Lovrić, and as of 2026, they remain married. There are no public reports of divorce or separation, and the couple continues to live together in Croatia. No children have been publicly confirmed as of this date. The couple keeps their personal life out of the spotlight, and Rimac rarely discusses his wife in interviews, preferring to let his work speak for itself.[edit]

The iFANN Editorial Team estimates Mate Rimac's net worth at approximately $1.9 billion as of 2026. This figure reflects his equity stakes in the Rimac Group and Bugatti Rimac, along with returns from the sale of Greyp Bikes to Porsche AG. His wealth stems primarily from these business ventures, supplemented by licensing deals, technology supply contracts, and real estate holdings in Croatia and Europe. The value of his portfolio has grown significantly since the Porsche investment in 2015 and the subsequent acquisition of Bugatti in 2021. As of 2026, his fortune is managed through various holding structures that oversee the diverse interests of the Rimac Group. Credible sources like Bloomberg and Forbes place his net worth between $1.85 billion and $1.9 billion USD, driven by the massive valuation of the Bugassi Rimac joint venture.[edit]

Rimac has received numerous accolades for his contributions to technology and business. He was named Croatian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2017 and was included in Forbes' Top 30 Under 30 list globally the same year. He was awarded the Order of Danica Hrvatska for outstanding contributions to the Croatian economy and technology. His work has been recognized by Motor Trend, which ranked him ninth among top automotive leaders in 2025. [edit]