Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master. - Alexandre Dumas
Name: Carlos Slim Helú Profession: Business magnate and Philanthropist Nationality: Mexican Estimated fortune: US$ 74 billion
Age: 71
Age: 71
Let's start strong with the biggest fortune of 2011:
Carlos Slim, the chairman of the telecommunication companies “Telmex” and “América Móvil”, has been the richest man of 2007, 2010 and 2011.
In 2007 he became the first Mexican -and the first person from a developing country- to top the List.
In 2008, he was the second-richest person in the world, behind Warren Buffett (an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist).
In 2009, he went down to the third position in the Forbes List, again behind Warren Buffett and Bill Gates too.
In 2010, Slim became the richest man -again- with a US$ 53.5 billion fortune.
In 2011, his fortune rose to US$ 74 billion, so he maintained his top 1 position.
In 2011, his fortune rose to US$ 74 billion, so he maintained his top 1 position.
Slim Helú made his fortune buying unprofitable companies and turning them around. He controls many phone consorts and has major investments in retailing, construction, banking, insurance, railroads and mining.
In 1990, he bought Telmex, the Mexican Telephone monopoly and today he is also in control of Telcel, América móvil and the large Mexican financial-industrial conglomerate Grupo Carso.
He is also an investor in The New York times and many TV channels.
It was Slim who came up with the novel idea that helped propel mobile companies growth. Now, he states that “The key is the Internet. The United States is by far the most advanced country in this new digital culture, so we have to be there. The Internet is the heart of this new civilization, and telecommunications are the nervous system, or circulatory system.”
He certainly is right and he has already started to invest in projects related to technology and aims to bring broadband internet connection to everyone.
It is not strange that many people criticize the fact that he is monopolizing the landline telephone market, as Telmex has the control of 90% of it. Many economists think the domination of Carlos Slim in Mexico -where approximately 17% of the population lives in poverty- prevents other small companies from growing and so affects his country negatively.
Interesting facts about Carlos Slim Helú:
- He comes from a Lebanese family.
- The Mexican businessman began in 1995 to create philanthropic foundations such as “Fundación Telmex” and “Fundación Carlos Slim Helú” in order to create health, sports and educational institutions and this way collaborate with president Bill Clinton to help poor people in Latin America.
- He has always practiced financial restraint so he still drives himself to work.
- The Mexican businessman began in 1995 to create philanthropic foundations such as “Fundación Telmex” and “Fundación Carlos Slim Helú” in order to create health, sports and educational institutions and this way collaborate with president Bill Clinton to help poor people in Latin America.
- He has always practiced financial restraint so he still drives himself to work.
Slim Helú is a very good example of how wealthy people should deal with the large amounts of money they possess. Though he is the richest man in the world, it seems that he hasn't lost his values and that he cares about charity and social aid.
I believe someone can have a lot of money or be rich. It doesn't mean the same: only the latter knows how not to let the lust of money blind him.
No comments:
Post a Comment