Safra Joseph (Joseph Safra)

Safra Joseph (Joseph Safra)

Biography

2020: A natural death at the age of 82 years

At the beginning of December, 2020 the richest person Brazil and the richest banker in the world Joseph Safra died. Lebanon-Brazilian the financier died at the age of 82 years a natural death.

Safra helped to broaden the family empire of private banking and capital management, servicing rich clients from São Paulo to New York. Being a member of the most famous Jewish business clan of Brazil, Safra made Banco Safra one of the most reliable banks of South America. He was deeply involved in affairs of the Jewish community of Brazil, spent a lot of time and money for financing of projects in the field of health care, education and charity and also on construction of synagogues and the public centers.

Safra is considered the richest banker in the world - by Forbes magazine estimates, its fortune is estimated in $19.9 billion. Joseph Safra's predecessors during five generations were engaged in banking and financed caravan trade of the Ottoman Empire between the Syrian city of Aleppo, Alexandria in Egypt and Constantinople in Turkey.

Being fluent in Arab, English and four other languages, Joseph Safra together with the father Jacob and brothers Edmond and Mois moved to Brazil from Beirut. In 2006 he paid $2.5 billion for a 50 percent share of Mois in Banco Safra, having put an end to long-term disputes over a bank management occasion.

Safr's family was selected among prosperous Brazilians: though its business became transnational, Safra remained are correct to the ethnic roots. Though banking was a basis of its activity always, Safra also aimed to diversify the status, investing in the paper and cellulose industry, the world real estate, telecommunications and livestock production.^[1]

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