Mango Founder’s Son Arrested in Probe Into Father’s Death

Isak Andic fell more than 300 feet to his death while out trekking with his son in the Montserrat mountains in December 2024. The pair were alone on the hike.

A spokesperson for the Andic family said Jonathan was innocent and that he would cooperate with the investigation.

“There is no legitimate incriminating evidence against him, nor will any be found,” the spokesperson said.

The incident has put a spotlight on one of the wealthiest families in Spain and the fast-fashion empire it controls. 

At the time of his death, Isak Andic was worth some $4.5 billion, according to Forbes. The entrepreneur built Mango from a single Barcelona shop in 1984 into an international retailer with thousands of stores and billions of dollars in annual sales.

When he died, at 71 years old, he was chairman of Mango and controlled the family’s holding company, which owned a 95% stake in the business.

Jonathan is now chairman of the family holding company, which he inherited alongside his two sisters. Mango is run day-to-day by Chief Executive Toni Ruiz, a trusted lieutenant of Isak who was previously given a 5% stake in the retailer.

Mango announced its founder’s “unexpected death” in a news release the same day, calling it an accident. Police, who responded to the incident by helicopter, also said it was likely an accident.

The incident has been the subject of speculation in the Spanish media since March last year when the local judge overseeing the investigation reopened the probe to give police more time to gather evidence.

Jonathan handed his cellphone to police at their request and has been questioned by investigators on several occasions, The Wall Street Journal has previously reported. Isak’s other family members have also been questioned by the police.

Jonathan is set to appear before a prosecutor Tuesday for the first time since being arrested. Following that, the local prosecutor must complete a report and decide whether to make its findings public. The case will then move to Barcelona’s courts where judges must decide whether to keep Jonathan in prison until a trial or to release him on bail.

Spanish media on Tuesday showed images of Jonathan being led away by police. 

Isak’s 2024 death sparked tributes from the fashion world as well as political leaders, including Spain’s prime minister.

Isak was born in Istanbul in 1953 to a Sephardic Jewish family that moved to Barcelona when he was 14 years old, amid increasing political and social unrest in Turkey.

As a teen, Isak started selling hand-embroidered T-shirts imported from Turkey and a few years later he founded Mango. The brand soon made its mark selling affordable, modern womenswear styles in rapidly rotating collections aimed at younger audiences.

Despite his wealth, Isak mostly kept a low profile. Outside of work, he was said to have loved the outdoors and been an experienced hiker.

The Montserrat Natural Park, where the father and son were walking at the time of Isak’s death, is known for its sheer cliffs, ancient caves and views.

Jonathan went to business school and joined the family company in 2005, when he was 24. Two years later, he helped launch the menswear side of Mango, which he ran until 2025 before stepping down to focus on the family’s holding company investments.

Mango has continued to grow since its founder’s death, allowing the company to pay out a record high dividend to its shareholders—Isak’s three children and Ruiz.

The closely held business reported an 11% rise in net profit for 2025 to 242 million euros, equivalent to about $281 million, on revenue up 13% to €3.7 billion. Mango paid out a dividend of €217.6 million last year.