Carlos Slim Helu
Carlos Slim Helu, a prominent Mexican engineer and businessman, was born on Jan. 28, 1940. His father, Julian Slim, is a Maronite Catholic from Lebanon.
Carlos Slim was raised as the youngest son of six children. Growing up, he went on to study engineering at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
A few years after graduation, Carlos Slim found himself married to Soumaya Domit, a fellow Lebanese-Mexican. The couple stayed together for 32 years until Soumaya was diagnosed with a kidney ailment and died in 1999.
Before her death, she and Carlos Slim had six children. Their youngest daughter, Johanna, is now married to Arturo Elias Ayub, who currently serves as a board member on some of Carlos Slim Helu’s companies.
As a businessman, Carlos Slim primarily focuses on the burgeoning telecommunications industry. In fact, a big percentage of the telecommunications industry in Mexico and Latin America are under his control. He is responsible for running Telcel, Telefonos de Mexico, and America Movil.
His net worth of about US$35 billion has made him one of the wealthiest men in the world standing alongside Bill Gates and Larry Ellison.
At 69 years old, Carlos Slim Helu has done a great deal in business. He used to serve as the president for the Mexican Association of Brokerage Houses, as well as vice-president for the Mexican Stock Exchange. From 1996 until 1998, he served as the president for the Latin American Committee of the New York Stock Exchange Administration Council. Carlos Slim Helu was also on the Alcatel and Altria Group’s board of directors. In addition, he was also on the SBC Communications board of directors.
Nowadays, Carlos Slim sits on the Philip Morris International board of directors and serves as the chairman for America Movil, Grupo Financiero Inbursa and Telefonos de Mexico.