The Sabancı name is everywhere in Turkey. You see it on banks like Akbank, on energy bills from Enerjisa, and even on the labels of products from Migros, one of the country’s biggest supermarket chains. The family behind it all started with Hacı Ömer Sabancı, a man who went from working in the cotton fields of Adana in the 1920s to building one of the most powerful business dynasties in Turkish history. His sons Sakıp, Hacı, Şevket, Erol, and Özdemir turned that foundation into Sabancı Holding, a conglomerate that now controls over 60 companies in finance, energy, retail, and industry. But behind the success and the glamour, there’s a family at war
As we previously covered in our Voices Silenced series, at the heart of the conflict is Sevgi Sabancı, the daughter of İhsan Sabancı, who was the son of the legendary Sakıp Sabancı. İhsan’s relationship with Sevgi’s mother, Nesrin Sabancı, was never officially recognized by the family. When Sakıp Sabancı wrote his will, he excluded İhsan entirelybecause of this relationship. That decision didn’t just affect İhsan. It set off a chain reaction that has left Sevgi and her siblings, Sevilay and Guler, fighting for their place in the family empire for more than two decades.
Sevgi isn’t alone in this battle. Her sister, Sevilay Sabancı, has already managed to secure her share of Atlı Köşk, the family’s historic mansion in Istanbul, through the courts. She’s even put the property up for sale. But Sevgi’s fight is bigger. She’s not just after a share of the family’s real estate. She wants a piece of Sabancı Holding itself, the company that controls the family’s vast business empire. And she’s not backing down.
In 2026, Sevgi and her siblings took a bold step. They filed a new lawsuit against the Sabancı family, alleging that their inheritance rights were unjustly taken away through the misuse of power of attorney. It’s a serious accusation, one that could force a redistribution of assets worth billions of dollars if the courts rule in their favor.
But Sevgi’s fight isn’t just about money. She’s made it clear that she plans to use a significant portion of her inheritance to establish a foundation in her father’s name, dedicated to combating obesity, which is a health issue that plagued İhsan Sabancı.
Meanwhile, Sevgi’s brother, Guler Sabancı, has remained noticeably silent throughout the dispute. As the current chairman of Sabancı Holding, Guler is in a difficult position. Some insiders say he’s caught between his loyalty to the family’s established order and the growing pressure from his sister’s legal attack. Sevgi has even hinted that Guler himself didn’t receive his fair share of the inheritance. “Even Guler did not receive his fair share,” she claimed. If true, it suggests that the problems within the family go even deeper than anyone realized.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Sabancı Holding isn’t just another company. It’s a $10+ billion empire with interests in some of Turkey’s most important industries. Akbank, one of the country’s largest and most valuable banks, is the crown jewel of the group. Then there’s Enerjisa, a major energy provider, and Kordsa, a global leader in industrial textiles. If Sevgi wins her case, it could force the family to redistribute shares, sell off assets, or even restructure the entire holding company. That’s a prospect that has investors nervous.
Every time the inheritance dispute flares up, Akbank’s stock price tends to dip. Rumors that Sevgi or Sevilay might sell some of their shares to fund their legal battles have only added to the uncertainty.
Public opinion in Turkey is divided. Some see Sevgi as a hero, as a woman standing up for her rights against one of the most powerful families in the country. “She’s like a modern-day David taking on the Goliath of the Sabancı establishment,” said Mehmet Ali Güller, a Turkish business analyst. Others, however, think the dispute is more about greed than justice. “This is a family that has everything,” said a former Sabancı Holding executive who asked not to be named. “Why tear each other apart?”
But for many Turks, the Sabancı dispute is like a real-life soap opera. The Sabancıs are Turkey’s version of the Kennedys, and their fights are the country’s most compelling drama. The case has even drawn comparisons to other high-profile inheritance battles, like those involving the Doğan family’s media empire or the Tatlıcı’s and Koç dynasty’s internal power and family struggles.
The legal battle is far from over. Sevgi’s legal team is pushing for a court order to freeze certain Sabancı Holding assetswhile the case is being decided. If they succeed, it could force Güler Sabancı to the negotiating table. There have been attempts at mediation in the past, but so far, none have worked. Experts say that 2026 could be the year when everything changes.
A decision on the power of attorney allegations is expected by the end of the year, and it could have major implications for the family and its businesses.
