Forbes magazine ranks Luděk Sekyra as the 33rd richest Czech, with an estimated net worth of 21 billion Czech koruna, approximately US$1.01 billion. Born in 1964 in Český Krumlov, Sekyra has spent decades shaping the urban landscape of Prague through his development firm while simultaneously funding academic initiatives across the globe.
Early Career and Legal Practice
After graduating from secondary school in Kaplice, Sekyra attended the Faculty of Law at Charles University in Prague. Between 1987 and 1990, he served as a teacher at the institution while studying legal theory and the politics of statehood. During this period, he was an official in the Socialist Youth Union and a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Following the 1989 Velvet Revolution, he entered private practice as a partner in professor Milan Bakeš’s law firm. His initial focus involved the restitution of real estate that had been seized by the state after the 1948 coup d'état.
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Sekyra co-founded a real estate agency in July 1992, eventually transitioning into an investor and developer. In 1999, he established the Sekyra Group. The company has since built or renovated approximately 7,000 flats and constructed headquarters for corporations including T-Mobile, Nestlé, Skanska, and Česká spořitelna. A major milestone arrived in 2009 with the completion of the National Technical Library, which secured both the Best of Realty jury prize and the Building of the Year award.
Urban Transformation Projects
The Sekyra Group manages large-scale urban development in Prague. Current efforts focus on districts such as Smíchov City, Rohan City, and Žižkov City. Smíchov City, a project requiring a 35 billion CZK investment, aims to provide 400,000 square meters of mixed-use space. Similarly, Rohan City involves the revitalization of a riverfront area with designs from Eva Jiřičná and Daniel Libeskind. The group’s work at the former Žižkov freight railway station includes a collaboration with the city to repurpose the historic station for the National Film Archive.
Philanthropy and Academic Support
In 2018, Sekyra founded the Sekyra Foundation to promote liberal democracy, civil society, and critical thinking. The foundation supports academic collaborations, including a £2.8 million donation to Oxford University, which led to the renaming of a professorship in moral philosophy. He serves on the Board of Regents for Harris Manchester College and the advisory board of the Harvard Safra Center for Ethics. In 2025, he was admitted as a member of the American Philosophical Association.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Český Krumlov
- Estimated Net Worth: 21 billion CZK
- Education: Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague
- Company founded: 1999, SEKYRA Group
- Major project: Smíchov City
- Oxford University role: Board of Regents, Harris Manchester College
- Professional affiliation: American Philosophical Association
- Citizenship: Czech Republic
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of the Sekyra Group?
The group focuses on residential and commercial real estate development, specifically managing large-scale urban projects in Prague.
What is the mission of the Sekyra Foundation?
The foundation supports liberal democracy, critical thinking, and the development of civil society through partnerships with academic institutions like Oxford and Harvard.
Achievements
- Educated at Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague
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