Third Spot: Carlos Slim Helú
Carlos Slim Helú (born
January 28, 1940 in Mexico City) is Latin America's richest man
(and #3 in the world in 2009) according to Forbes, losing $25
billion from his $60 billion fortune during 2008.
His
wealth comes from his businesses in the communications industry,
Teléfonos de México, Altria Group (Previously Philip Morris,
Director), Telcel and América Móvil telecommunication companies.
Though he maintains an active involvement in his companies, his
three sons Carlos, Marco Antonio and Patrick Slim Domit head
them.
Fortune |
Business |
Country |
Status |
35 Billion |
Communications |
Mexico |
Widowed, 6 children
|
|
His father was Julián
Slim Haddad
(Yusef Salim Haddad), a Lebanese Maronite Christian, who
as a teenager fled to Mexico in 1902, escaping the harsh military
rule of the Ottoman Turks. His father and two of his older
brothers arrived at the Mexican port of Tampico, making their
way to Mexico City.
|
In 1911, Julian established
a dry goods store called La Estrella del Oriente
and took a gamble and bought up some prime real estate
in the city core - a shrewd move, as it turned out.
Slim Haddad married Linda Helu, daughter
of another prosperous Lebanese merchant, and had six children.
Carlos Slim Helu was the fifth of the six children. Carlos
credits his father as his mentor in business, retailing
and finance. Julian Slim Haddad died in 1952, leaving
his family a moderately prosperous economic base from
which Carlos launched his successful financial career.
(wiki)
|
|
|
