02. Joseph Safra – $25.6 Billion

Joseph Safra is a Brazilian of Lebanese Syrian origin billionaire banker who runs the Brazilian banking and investment empire, Safra Group. He is the chairman of all Safra companies, among them Safra National Bank of New York and Banco Safra headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. Safra has a net worth of $24.7 billion. He is of Syrian Jewish origin, and comes from the Safra family.

He has four children: Jacob J. Safra, Esther Safra [pt] (married to Carlos Dayan [pt], son of Sasson Dayan), Alberto J. Safra, David J. Safra.[15] Jacob is responsible for all international operations outside of Brazil while David and Alberto, manage Banco Safra in Brazil.

In 2013, Joseph Safra’s family acquired more than a dozen properties in the U.S., primarily in New York City. They also own a portfolio of commercial real estate in Brazil.[16] In 2014 Safra paid more than £700 million to buy The Gherkin – one of the most distinctive towers in the City of London.