[2] Botín was born in Santander, Cantabria, on the northern coast of Spain, the eldest of two sons of Emilio Botín-Sanz de Sautuola López, born on 18 January 1903, and Ana María García de los Ríos y Caller.

[3] After attending as a boarding student the Jesuit school of Colegio de la Inmaculada, in Gijón, he studied law and economics at the University of Deusto in Bilbao.

[citation needed] In 2005, Forbes put Emilio Botín's net worth at $1.7 billion.

[citation needed] Botín's eldest daughter, Ana Patricia Botín, was the president of Banesto from 2002 to November 2010 and was the CEO of Santander UK from December 2010 until Emilio's death upon which she was elected his successor as executive chairman of Grupo Santander.

Botin's eldest daughter Ana Patricia Botín, previously head of Santander's British business, was appointed chairman after his death.