Forbes: Joseph Safra Surpasses Lemann to Become Brazil’s Wealthiest Person

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The list of Brazil’s largest fortunes, compiled by Forbes magazine, saw a change in leadership this year.

Banker Joseph Safra, with an estimated fortune of R$119 billion (US$24 billion), took first place from entrepreneur Jorge Paulo Lemann, partner of ABInbev and 3G Capital, with assets worth R$91 billion.

The podium of the wealthiest is completed by Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook, with an estimated fortune of R$68 billion.

This year’s Forbes Brazil list features 238 names, with fortunes derived from ventures in the sectors of consumer goods, insurance, infrastructure and logistics, pharmacies, aviation and transport, education, and technology, among others. There are 33 more names than there were last year.

This increase in the number of billionaires was driven by the Weg engine manufacturer. There are ten new billionaires linked to the company – the newcomers on the list have inherited shares left by the company’s founders Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva, and Geraldo Werninghaus.

Also debuting on the list is investor Alexandre Behring, ranked the sixth wealthiest in the country, with a fortune of R$34 billion. Behring is also a partner of 3G Capital and chairman of the Kraft Heinz board of directors.

Another who debuted directly in the list’s top ten is entrepreneur Ilson Mateus, president and major shareholder of Mateus Group, a retail chain with 137 stores spread throughout Brazil’s Northeast. The group plans to go public in October, expecting to raise over R$4 billion.

Luiza Trajano is the only woman to figure on Forbes Brazil’s list of the ten wealthiest persons. Magazine Luiza‘s assets increased 181 percent last year, according to Forbes. Luiza is now the wealthiest woman in Brazil, a position that used to be occupied by Miriam Voigt, from Weg.

The top ten in the ranking:

1st – Joseph Safra (financial sector) – Wealth: R$119 billion

2nd – Jorge Paulo Lemann (Beverages and investments) – Wealth: R$91 billion

3rd – Eduardo Saverin (Investments/Internet) – Wealth: R$68 billion

4th – Marcel Telles (Beverages and investments) – Wealth: R$54 billion

5th – Carlos Alberto Sicupira and family (Drinks and investments) – Wealth: R$42.6 billion

6th – Alexandre Behring (Investments) – Wealth: R$34.3 billion

7th – André Esteves (Financial Sector) – Wealth: R$24.9 billion

8th – Luiza Trajano (Retail) – Wealth: R$24 billion

9th – Ilson Mateus (Retail) – Wealth: R$20 billion

10th – Luciano Hang (Retail) – Wealth: R$18,7 billion

Source: Estadão Conteúdo