Famous Brazilian Business People

Vote for Your Favourite Brazilian Business People

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 1 
Eduardo Saverin
(One of the Co-Founders of 'Facebook')
Eduardo Saverin
16
Birthdate: March 19, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Born into an affluent Jewish Brazilian family, Eduardo Saverin co-founded Facebook with his Harvard roommate Mark Zuckerberg and others in 2004. He was later involved in a lawsuit against Zuckerberg. He also renounced his U.S. citizenship and moved to Singapore, which some believe was his excuse to avoid paying taxes.

 2 
Xuxa
(Brazilian Television Host, Film Actress, Singer and Businesswoman)
Xuxa
4
Birthdate: March 27, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Santa Rosa, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Xuxa is a Brazilian TV host, film actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her professional career as a model and soon started doing acting gigs as well. She became a superstar in the 1980s and her TV shows were broadcast in Portuguese, English, and Spanish worldwide. She is also a successful businesswoman with a net worth estimated at US$400 million. 

 3 
Mike Krieger
(Co-founder of Instagram)
Mike Krieger
13
Birthdate: March 4, 1986
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
Mike Krieger is a Brazilian-American entrepreneur and software engineer. He co-founded Instagram along with Kevin Systrom. He studied symbolic systems at Stanford University, where he first met Kevin. The two men later sold Instagram to Facebook and began focusing on other projects. Krieger is also a philanthropist and is in a partnership with charity evaluator GiveWell. 
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 4 
Jorge Paulo Lemann
(Businessman, Investment Banker, and Co-Founder of the Brazilian Investment Firm ‘3G Capital’)
Jorge Paulo Lemann
3
Birthdate: August 26, 1939
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Jorge Paulo Lemann is a Brazilian billionaire businessman and investment banker. Lemann is credited with co-founding 3G Capital, a Brazilian investment firm, which owns brands like Anheuser-Busch, Burger King, and Heinz. In 2019, Jorge Paulo Lemann was named the world's 37th richest person by Forbes magazine, thanks to his net worth of 24.6 billion US dollars.

 5 
David Neeleman
(Entrepreneur)
David Neeleman
3
Birthdate: October 16, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Brazilian-born Dutch-American David Neeleman has redefined the low-cost commercial airline industry with his five airline brands, including JetBlue and Breeze Airways. A university drop-out, Neeleman had started his career as a freelance travel agent, selling package stays in Hawaii, and had then become an airline entrepreneur at 25.

 6 
Edmond Safra
(Lebanese-Brazilian Banker )
Edmond Safra
3
Birthdate: August 6, 1932
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Died: December 3, 1999

Edmond Safra was a Lebanese Brazilian banker. His father was a prominent banker, and he began his career working at his father’s bank. He was hardworking, ambitious, and street-smart and started earning millions while still in his teens. He was also a major philanthropist. He died in an arson that attracted wide media interest.  

 7 
Joseph Safra
(Lebanese Brazilian Banker and Businessman Who Was the Chairman of All 'Safra' Companies)
Joseph Safra
3
Birthdate: September 1, 1938
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Died: December 10, 2020

Joseph Safra was a Swiss-based Lebanese Brazilian banker and businessman. A billionaire, he ran the Brazilian banking and investment empire, Safra Group, and was the chairman of all Safra companies. At the time of his death in 2020, he was the richest person in Brazil. He was married to a Greek-born woman named Vicky and had four children. 

 8 
Eike Batista
(Brazilian-German Entrepreneur and Former CEO of 'Ebx Group')
Eike Batista
2
Birthdate: November 3, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Governador Valadares, Brazil

Eike Batista is a Brazilian-German serial entrepreneur. He was once engaged in a quest to promote Brazil's infrastructure with large-scale projects, which eventually led to his company’s bankruptcy. Once the wealthiest person in Brazil, he lost millions of dollars due to business losses and debts. He is currently under arrest for bribing Rio de Janeiro governor Sérgio Cabral.  

 9 
Carlos Brito
(manager)
Carlos Brito
2
Birthdate: 1960 AD
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro

Carlos Brito is a Brazilian businessman. He is best known for his tenure as the CEO of Anheuser-Busch InBev from 2008 to 2021. He was succeeded as CEO by Michel Doukeris upon his retirement. Brito has a degree in engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

 10 
Flávio Bolsonaro
(Senator for Rio de Janeiro since 2019)
Flávio Bolsonaro
3
Birthdate: April 30, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Resende, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Flávio Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician, entrepreneur, and lawyer. He is currently serving as the Senator for Rio de Janeiro. Flávio Bolsonaro is also known as the eldest son of popular politician Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving as the President of Brazil.

 11 
Ricardo Semler
(CEO and majority owner of Semco Partners)
Ricardo Semler
0
Birthdate: 1959 AD
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Ricardo Semler is a Brazilian industrialist who is the CEO and majority owner of the company Semco Partners. The organization is known for its radical industrial democracy and corporate re-engineering. His business management policies, which have helped his company increase its profits manifold, have attracted widespread interest around the world. He is also a published author. 

 12 
Silvio Santos
(Businessperson, Television Host)
Silvio Santos
0
Birthdate: December 12, 1930
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Silvio Santos is a Brazilian media tycoon, entrepreneur, and television host. He is best known as the host of Programa Silvio Santos, the second-longest running TV show in Brazil. Widely regarded as the most famous person in Brazil, Silvio Santos is the only celebrity from the country to be featured on Forbes magazine's list of billionaires.

 13 
Ana Hickmann
(Brazilian Model, TV Host and Businesswoman)
Ana Hickmann
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1981
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Santa Cruz do Sul, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Ana Hickmann is a Brazilian model, businesswoman, and TV host. She is best known for her work with world-renowned brands like Victoria's Secret, L'Oreal, and Bloomingdales. She has also appeared on the covers of popular magazines like Marie Claire, Elle, and Brazilian Vogue. Ana Hickmann currently co-hosts a TV show and owns her own jewellery, clothing, cosmetics and accessories brand.

 14 
José Carlos Semenzato
(Current president of SMZTO Holding de Franquias Setoriais)
José Carlos Semenzato
0
Birthdate: March 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cafelândia, State of São Paulo, Brazil

José Carlos Semenzato is a Brazilian entrepreneur best known for founding an educational franchise chain called Microlins. In 2010, the franchise, which had 700 schools, was sold to Grupo Multi for a whopping R$110 million. José Carlos Semenzato is also credited with founding Casa X and LifeUSA.

 15 
Marcelo Odebrecht
(Former CEO of Odebrecht)
Marcelo Odebrecht
0
Birthdate: October 18, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Salvador, Brazil

Marcelo Odebrecht is a Brazilian businessman best known for his service as the former CEO of the diversified conglomerate, Odebrecht. He was arrested and sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2016 for paying over $30 million in bribes. Odebrecht admitted guilt, paid a $2 billion fine, and provided evidence to authorities, which helped reduce his sentence to ten years.

 16 
Pedro Diniz
(Brazilian Businessman and Former Racing Driver)
Pedro Diniz
0
Birthdate: May 22, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
Brazilian businessman and agroforester Pedro Diniz is also a former Formula 1 racing driver. He also established Fazenda Da Toca, one of the largest organic farms of his country, and The Instituto Toca, a non-profit research organization. He launched the Formula Renault 2.0 Brazil Championship, too.
 17 
Moise Safra
(Businessman)
Moise Safra
1
Birthdate: April 5, 1934
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Aleppo, Syria
Died: June 15, 2014

Moise Safra was a Lebanese-Brazilian businessman who co-founded Banco Safra—the sixth-largest banking institution in Brazil—with his brothers Edmond Safra and Joseph Safra. The sons of a prominent banker, the Safra brothers too cemented their place in the Brazilian financial services sector. Moise was also a major philanthropist. He was married to Chella Cohen Safra. 

 18 
Roberto Marinho
(Businessman)
Roberto Marinho
1
Birthdate: December 3, 1904
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: August 6, 2003

Roberto Marinho was a Brazilian businessman who owned the media conglomerate Grupo Globo from 1925 to 2003. The son of a publisher, he inherited the newspaper O Globo from his father and began working there as a reporter, gradually moving up the ranks. As the owner, he expanded the company from newspapers to radio and TV.  

 19 
Ricardo Brennand
(Entrepreneur)
Ricardo Brennand
2
Birthdate: May 27, 1927
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Brazil
Died: April 24, 2020

Ricardo Brennand was a Brazilian engineer and businessman. He studied civil and mechanical engineering at the Federal University of Pernambuco and became involved in the family business. He later founded the Ricardo Brennand Institute (IRB). A few months before his death in the Covid-19 pandemic, he was named the second-oldest billionaire in Brazil. 

 20 
Luciano Huck
(TV Host and Entrepreneur)
Luciano Huck
0
Birthdate: September 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Luciano Huck is a Brazilian entrepreneur and TV host. He is best known for hosting a popular TV show called Caldeirão do Huck, which aired every Saturday on TV Globo from 2000 to 2021. The show was also broadcast to 114 countries. Huck won the Prêmio Extra de Televisão for Best TV Host for eight successive years starting from 2006.

 21 
Roberto Justus
(Television personality best known for O Aprendiz, broadcast by Record, which is the Brazilian version of The Apprentice (TV series))
Roberto Justus
0
Birthdate: April 30, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Roberto Justus is a Brazilian businessman, investor, and television personality. He is best known for appearing on the Brazilian version of the popular reality talent game show, The Apprentice. Roberto Justus is also known for hosting a game show called Um Contra Cem.

 22 
Paola Carosella
(Chef, Businesswoman)
Paola Carosella
0
Birthdate: October 30, 1972
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Paola Carosella is an Italian Argentine businesswoman, cook, and celebrity chef. She is best known for appearing alongside French chef Érick Jacquin and Brazilian chef Henrique Fogaça as a juror on the popular TV show, MasterChef Brazil.

 23 
Patricia Abravanel
(Host, Producer and Businesswoman)
Patricia Abravanel
0
Birthdate: October 4, 1977
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil

Patricia Abravanel is a Brazilian TV host, businesswoman, and producer. She is best known as the daughter of media tycoon Silvio Santos. Patricia Abravanel made headlines in 2001 when she was kidnapped in São Paulo. She was held in captivity for about a week and the news of her kidnap spread like wildfire, making her a household name in Brazil.

 24 
Jan Antonín Baťa
(Shoe manufacturer and half-brother of Tomáš Baťa)
Jan Antonín Baťa
0
Birthdate: March 7, 1898
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Uherské Hradiště, Czechia
Died: August 23, 1965

Jan Antonín Baťa was a Czech-Brazilian shoemaker and manufacturer who took over the famous Bata company from his half-brother in 1931 and implemented new growth plans for the company. Today, Bata factories have been established all over the world.

 25 
Elie Horn
(Founder and principal of Cyrela Brazil Realty)
Elie Horn
0
Birthdate: 1944 AD
Birthplace: Aleppo, Syria

Elie Horn is a Brazilian philanthropist and businessman best known for founding one of the largest real estate companies in Brazil, Cyrela Brazil Realty. He is currently serving as the president of the company. Elie Horn is also a noted philanthropist. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes in Israel.

 26 
Eliana Michaelichin Bezerra
(TV Host, Businesswoman)
Eliana Michaelichin Bezerra
0
Birthdate: November 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Eliana Michaelichin Bezerra is a Brazilian businesswoman, TV host, and former singer. She is best known as the host of a popular TV show called Eliana, which has been broadcast since 2009 on SBT network. Over the course of her career, Eliana Michaelichin Bezerra has won a couple of awards, including the prestigious Troféu Imprensa.

 27 
David Feffer
(CEO and President of Suzano Papel e Celulose)
David Feffer
0
Birthdate: November 13, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: State of São Paulo, Brazil

David Feffer is a Brazilian businessman who has been leading Grupo Suzano, one of Brazil's largest private companies, since 2003. David Feffer also acts as president of social and cultural institutions like the Directory Council of the Alef School and the Council for Philanthropic Foundation ARYMAX.

 28 
Octávio Frias
(Brazilian Businessman)
Octávio Frias
0
Birthdate: August 5, 1912
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: April 29, 2007

Octávio Frias was a Brazilian businessman best remembered for turning Folha de S. Paulo, a newspaper acquired by him in 1962, into one of the most important and influential media organizations in Brazil. Folha de S. Paulo became the basis for a conglomerate named Grupo Folha. 

 29 
Graças Foster
(Business executive)
Graças Foster
0
Birthdate: August 26, 1953
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Caratinga, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
 30 
Rafael Fragoso
(Jockey)
Rafael Fragoso
0
Birthdate: 1958 AD
Birthplace: Brazil
Died: May 17, 2020

Rafael Fragoso was a Brazilian sportsman and businessman. A former Brazilian champion in horse racing, Fragoso also represented his country in several international competitions. After retiring as a professional jockey, Rafael Fragoso operated a footwear and accessories store in Ipanema, which he shut down in 2015. He died of COVID-19 in 2020 at the age of 62.

 31 
Cristina Greeven Cuomo
(American Media Personality, Entrepreneur and Wife of CNN News Anchor Chris Cuomo)
Cristina Greeven Cuomo
0
Birthdate: January 21, 1970
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, United State

Cristina Greeven Cuomo is an entrepreneur and media personality best known as the wife of CNN News anchor, Chris Cuomo. She is credited with helping publications, such as Gotham and The Purist, evolve creatively and profit financially. She is also credited with launching her own website and journal that focuses on wellness and lifestyle.

 32 
Aldemir Bendine
(Brazilian Banker and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Of Petrobras)
Aldemir Bendine
4
Birthdate: December 10, 1963
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paraguaƈu Paulista, Brazil

Aldemir Bendine is a businessman who served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Petrobras from 2015 to 2016. He began working for the financial services company Banco do Brasil as a teenager and eventually rose to the position of CEO. He left the commercial bank in 2015 to become the CEO of Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras.  

 33 
Mario Calixto Filho
(Politician)
Mario Calixto Filho
0
Birthdate: August 9, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arcos, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Died: June 17, 2020

Mario Calixto Filho was a Brazilian politician, businessman, and journalist. He is best remembered for his service as the Senator for the state of Rondônia from 2004 to 2005. In 2015, Mario Calixto Filho was arrested by the police after being accused of government procurement fraud. He was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment and died in prison in 2020.