From the Editor

Last Updated Mar 10, 2026, 1:01am EDT

  • Roland Duchatelet started automotive sensor company Melexis in 1989 with married couple Rudi De Winter Françoise Chombar.
  • Melexis and a sister company, X-Fab, are both publicly traded and jointly controlled by the two families.
  • Duchatelet is the founder of social-liberal political party Vivant in Belgium, which later merged with the VLD party. He was elected senator between 2007 and 2010.

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Personal Stats

Age
79
Source of Wealth
Semiconductors, Self Made
Residence
Sint-Truiden, Belgium
Citizenship
Belgium
Marital Status
Married
Children
6
Did you know
Roland Duchatelet has previoulsy invested in sports and once owned soccer teams Standard Liège (Belgium) and the Charlton Athletic (U.K.).
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