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The Richest Brazilian in History Reached a Wealth of R$ 227 Billion, but Frenchwoman Françoise Bettencourt Meyers Appears with About R$ 431 Billion, a Reserved Life and Leadership Among Billionaire Women in the 2025 World Ranking Released by Forbes, Highlighting the Contrast Between Profiles of Extreme Wealth.
The richest Brazilian in history has once again broken records by reaching an estimated wealth of R$ 227 billion, according to the 2025 global billionaire ranking. Even with this unprecedented mark in the country, the amount is still far below that of a French heiress who practically doubles this figure.
The comparison that draws attention involves Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, connected to the L’Oréal cosmetics empire, which totals around R$ 431 billion. The contrast is not only financial. While the richest Brazilian in history leads the national list, the French businesswoman holds a prominent position among the world’s wealthiest women, maintaining a discreet lifestyle away from ostentation.
Who Is the Richest Brazilian in History in 2025
The title of richest Brazilian in history belongs to Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook.
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“No one will make us change the Pix,” says Lula after the US report.
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Lula responds directly to Trump and says that Pix is from Brazil and will not change under pressure from anyone, after a report from the United States pointed out the Brazilian payment system as an American trade barrier.
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Amazon has just announced a new fee on all deliveries, and your online purchases will become more expensive starting April 17, including for those buying from the United States here in Brazil.
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He sold his share for R$ 4 thousand, saw the company become a giant worth R$ 19 trillion, and missed the opportunity of a lifetime.
In 2025, his fortune jumped from R$ 155.9 billion to R$ 227 billion, representing a growth of 45.5% in just one year.
The advancement was primarily driven by the appreciation of Meta’s shares, the company that owns Facebook, amid the expansion of investments in artificial intelligence.
In addition to maintaining his leadership in the country, Saverin surpassed his own record set the previous year, consolidating the largest fortune ever achieved by a Brazilian.
The Woman Who Almost Doubles This Fortune
Despite the milestone achieved by the richest Brazilian in history, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ wealth is even more impressive.
The L’Oréal heiress was named in 2025 as one of the richest women in the world, with an estimated fortune of US$ 81.6 billion, equivalent to about R$ 431 billion.
This amount represents almost double the wealth attributed to the richest Brazilian in history. This data reinforces the difference between the largest male fortunes in Brazil and the top of global female wealth.
Discretion Instead of Ostentation
Even with billionaire wealth, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers leads a life considered simple by the standards of great fortunes. She lives in a regular apartment and avoids extravagant luxuries.
In an interview given in 2024, the businesswoman stated that she doesn’t live in mansions, doesn’t collect works of art, and doesn’t wear jewelry ostentatiously.
This discreet profile contrasts with the image often associated with billionaires and reinforces public interest in her stance on such significant wealth.
Women at the Top of Wealth and the Contrast with Brazil
While the richest Brazilian in history leads the national ranking, among women in Brazil, the spotlight remains on Vicky Safra, widow of banker Joseph Safra.
She occupies the second overall position among the richest in the country, with an estimated net worth of R$ 120.5 billion, after a growth of 9.4% compared to the previous year.
On the international scene, however, the scale of female fortunes is much larger.
Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ position in the global ranking shows that female leadership in billionaire wealth is concentrated in inheritances linked to large global conglomerates.
Changes in the Ranking of the Richest in Brazil
The 2025 survey also brought significant movements below the top.
Jorge Paulo Lemann maintained third place among the richest Brazilians but saw his fortune drop from R$ 91.8 billion to R$ 88 billion.
The largest leap was recorded by André Esteves of BTG Pactual, who moved from ninth place to fourth, with a growth of 56% and a wealth of R$ 51 billion.
Fernando Moreira Salles, linked to Itaú Unibanco, closed the group of the top five with R$ 40.2 billion, after an increase of 4.5%.
In contrast, entrepreneurs like Carlos Alberto Sicupira and Alexandre Behring lost positions in the ranking, still impacted by the crisis involving Americanas.
What the Ranking Reveals About Global Wealth
The case of the richest Brazilian in history shows how technology and the financial market continue to be central engines in the formation of great fortunes in Brazil.
On the other hand, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers’ trajectory highlights the weight of inheritances connected to established international conglomerates.
The contrast between R$ 227 billion and R$ 431 billion also helps to gauge the distance between the peak of Brazilian wealth and the highest levels of global wealth.
Even with national records, the richest Brazilian in history still ranks well behind some fortunes concentrated outside the country.
Given this huge difference between the largest fortunes of Brazil and the world, do you think the discreet profile of billionaires like the L’Oréal heiress changes the way society views extreme wealth?
Deixa o lula e o haddad ler esta matéria pra ver o que ele faz.
Pra poderia doar um por cento dessa para eu realizar meu sonho da casa própria meu sonho de consumo2
Riqueza sem distribuição, do ponto de vista religioso, é luxúria, soberba. Não agrada o coração de Deus. Assim como também a corrupção humana desviando dinheiro pq , no final, alguém está sendo prejudicado. Do ponto de vista humanístico, tudo é ego , ganância infindável.
Infelizmente ser humano é caso perdido no seu egocentrismo.
Essa riqueza não está guardada em colchões nas casas dessas pessoas, está no valor que construíram em suas empresas, valor que é entregue a população que usam seus produtos. Além disso, a maioria dos bilionários são muito ligados a filantropia e ajudam muitas pessoas… O ser humano tem um lado sombrio sim, mas também tem um lado bom.