The 10 Richest Families in Brazil: Batista Family, Queiroz Galvão, Safra, Moreira Salles

Written by Roberta Souza

Published on 02/02/2026 at 10:22

Foto: Ia

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From Banks and Industries to Agribusiness, Meet the Dynasties That Concentrate Billions in the Country

Brazil is home to some of the largest family fortunes in the world, built over decades — and in some cases, over a century. In 2025, these families not only maintain prominent positions in the wealth ranking, but continue to expand their fortunes through banks, industries, retail, energy, and agribusiness.

Next, find out who the 10 richest families in Brazil are in 2025, how they made their money, and why they remain on top even in unstable economic scenarios.

Safra Family — Global Banking and Investments

Vicky and Joseph Safra in a photo from 2014. — Photo: Bloomberg/2014

Estimated Fortune: over R$ 120 billion
Origin: financial system

The family of Joseph Safra built an international banking empire. The Safra Bank is just part of a conglomerate with a presence in Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. The focus has always been on conservative management, large fortunes, and international operations.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Moreira Salles Family — Banking and Mining

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 110 billion
Origin: banking and commodities

Controlling Itaú Unibanco and a significant shareholder in CBMM, the family transformed financial participation into global strategic assets, especially in niobium, an essential mineral for high-tech industries.

Walther Moreira Salles as superintendent of Banco Moreira Salles in Poços de Caldas — Photo: Collection of Instituto Moreira Salles (IMS)

Lemann Family — Global Consumption and Investments

Estimated Fortune: over R$ 100 billion
Origin: beverages and consumer goods

The name Jorge Paulo Lemann is linked to the creation of Ambev and international expansion through AB InBev. The group also controls global food and consumer brands.

Marinho Family — Communication and Media

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 95 billion
Origin: media

The family controls Grupo Globo, the largest media group in Latin America. Diversification into streaming, sports, and content production has kept the group relevant even with digital transformation.

Batista Family — Animal Protein

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 85 billion
Origin: slaughterhouses

The Batista brothers transformed a regional butcher shop into a global giant with JBS, now one of the largest producers of animal protein in the world, with operations in dozens of countries.

Batista Brothers: How Are Joesley and Wesley Today and the Future of JBS?

Vilella Family — Agribusiness and Sugar

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 75 billion
Origin: agroindustry

Controllers of Cosan, the family built wealth by integrating sugar production, ethanol, energy, logistics, and fuel distribution.

Trajano Family — Retail and Technology

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 60 billion
Origin: retail

Leading Magazine Luiza, the Trajano family stood out by transforming a traditional chain into an integrated digital platform, uniting physical stores, e-commerce, and technology.

Ermírio de Moraes Family — Heavy Industry

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 55 billion
Origin: industry

The Votorantim Group operates in cement, metals, energy, and finance. The strategy has always focused on industry, family control, and gradual international expansion.

Setubal Family — Banks and Investments

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 50 billion
Origin: financial system

Historically linked to Itaú, the family remains influential in the Brazilian financial sector, participating in strategic investments and governance of major institutions.

Queiroz Galvão Family — Infrastructure and Energy

Estimated Fortune: around R$ 45 billion
Origin: heavy construction and energy

The family built their wealth from major infrastructure projects, concessions, and energy projects, sectors directly linked to the country’s economic growth.

millionaires- fortune- money- wealthy families- businessmen - wealth — Source: AI

What All These Families Have in Common

Despite operating in different sectors, there are clear points of convergence:

Long-term Vision
Constant Reinvestment
Internationalization
Structured Family Control

Wealth did not appear overnight. In almost all cases, it took decades — or generations — to build.

Why These Fortunes Continue to Grow

While much of the economy fluctuates, these families operate in essential sectors: food, banking, energy, media, and consumption. These are areas less vulnerable to specific crises and highly strategic in the global landscape.

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Rosano Vasconcelos

#232933

04/02/2026 20:31

Claro que é fácil fazer fortuna criando receitas e pedindo recuperação judicial para pagar pequenos fornecedores como eu que estou em dificuldades financeiras desde 2016 com uma Nota promissória do grupo Galvão Engenharia com promessa de pagamento em 30 anos. Será que meus filhos vão receber?

-1

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Lena

#232738

04/02/2026 09:57

Muitas dessas famílias fazem parte do capitalismo de estado ou capitalismo de compadrio, frequente no Brasil desde o período colonial mas impulsionado pelo PT nos últimos 20 anos!! Tiram dos pobres para dar para os ricos. O BNDES com a JBS é exemplo disto. E quanto aos bancos, empreiteiras e outros exemplos, nem precisamos falar.. A realidade que vivemos no país ja mostra o modus operandi desses bilionários! Nada contra a riqueza meritória, mas isto é raro nestas famílias listados na reportagem.

-6

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Hector Dal Lago

#232928

Reply to Lena

04/02/2026 20:13

Bem isso! O PT colaborou muito com esses sangue sugas da população!

-2

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The 10 Richest Families in Brazil: Batista Family, Queiroz Galvão, Safra, Moreira Salles

From Banks and Industries to Agribusiness, Meet the Dynasties That Concentrate Billions in the Country

Safra Family — Global Banking and Investments

Moreira Salles Family — Banking and Mining

Lemann Family — Global Consumption and Investments

Marinho Family — Communication and Media

Batista Family — Animal Protein

Vilella Family — Agribusiness and Sugar

Trajano Family — Retail and Technology

Ermírio de Moraes Family — Heavy Industry

Setubal Family — Banks and Investments

Queiroz Galvão Family — Infrastructure and Energy

What All These Families Have in Common

Why These Fortunes Continue to Grow

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The 10 Richest Families in Brazil: Batista Family, Queiroz Galvão, Safra, Moreira Salles

From Banks and Industries to Agribusiness, Meet the Dynasties That Concentrate Billions in the Country

Safra Family — Global Banking and Investments

Moreira Salles Family — Banking and Mining

Lemann Family — Global Consumption and Investments

Marinho Family — Communication and Media

Batista Family — Animal Protein

Vilella Family — Agribusiness and Sugar

Trajano Family — Retail and Technology

Ermírio de Moraes Family — Heavy Industry

Setubal Family — Banks and Investments

Queiroz Galvão Family — Infrastructure and Energy

What All These Families Have in Common

Why These Fortunes Continue to Grow

A village with 115 inhabitants wants new residents: it offers a house, a job, up to 44 thousand euros in benefits, almost free rent, an annual grant of 8 thousand euros for 3 years, and a 20 thousand euro incentive for businesses in the mountains of Italy.

NASA is offering US$ 750,000 to people from anywhere in the world who solve a problem that could decide survival on Mars: creating food for astronauts without relying on resupply from Earth.

While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

New microwave that can replace three appliances hits the market: Sharp launches 3-in-1 model that combines air fryer, convection oven, and heating in 0.9 cubic feet for small kitchens

While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.

With an 88-meter wingspan, a capacity of 250 tons, six engines, and 32 wheels, the Ukrainian giant became the greatest symbol of extreme air transport and one of the most impressive machines in aviation history.

Delayed FGTS will offer online consultation starting in June, and workers will be able to track pending amounts through the Regularize Portal without leaving home, in a change that promises to speed up forgotten deposits.

BRICS powerhouse, partner of China, Brazil, and Russia, could become the 4th largest air market on the planet by 2030, driven by 280 million inhabitants, 17,000 islands, and an explosion in demand for flights and modern airports.

The bridge connecting Brazil and Paraguay has a colossal structure, 1,294 meters over the Paraguay River, and 90% of the works completed, but customs bottlenecks, lack of resources, and obstacles between 4 countries still threaten the operation of the 2,400 km Bioceanic Route.

A ship becomes central to Petrobras’s billion-dollar contract, and a Santa Catarina shipyard will build four R$ 11 billion subsea vessels to operate in deep waters starting in 2030.

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The delivery of a 15 m² container studio apartment, furnished with a bed, nightstand, wardrobe, slatted panel headboard, custom-designed kitchen, and a corner shower enclosure in the bathroom. The client will use the house on weekends.

A 60 m² container house with three bedrooms, including a master suite and two children’s bedrooms. The team’s assembly took five business days, and the structure came pre-finished from the factory.

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