Brazil had 70 billionaires on the 2026 Forbes list, up from 47 in 2025, mostly in Sao Paulo. How many billionaires are in Brazil, and who are the richest? They include Marcel Herrmann Telles, with fortune from beer, and Andre Esteves, worth about $20.2 billion in 2026. This guide profiles the nation's richest and where they are based.
In Brazil, the ultra-wealthy, predominantly accumulate their fortunes through industries like beer, banking, finance, and minerals. This concentration of wealth is mostly found in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Notable among these billionaires is Marcel Herrmann Telles, with interests in the food and beverage sector.
How many billionaires are in Brazil?
As of 2026, Brazil is home to 70 billionaires on the Forbes World’s Billionaires list, up from 47 in 2025. The majority of them are located in Sao Paulo, with Rio de Janeiro home to the next-largest concentration. Other cities with billionaires include Rondonopolis, Brusque, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Joinville, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Santo Andre, São José dos Pinhais, and Sao Luis.
Top 5 Billionaires in Brazil
Who has the highest net worth in Brazil?
1. Marcel Herrmann Telles
Marcel Herrmann Telles was born in 1950 and is a male, self-made billionaire. His primary source of wealth is beer, derived chiefly from his partnership in 3G Capital and a stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, alongside interests across the food and beverage industries. Estimates of his net worth vary widely across sources, so a single current figure is not reported here.
2. Andre Esteves
Andre Esteves was born in 1968 and is a self-made male billionaire. As of 2026, his net worth was estimated at about $20.2 billion, ranking him 131st wealthiest in the world. His wealth is primarily derived from his stake in BTG Pactual, Latin America’s largest investment bank, where he is senior partner and chairman.
3. David Velez & family
David Velez is a self-made male billionaire, born in 1981. His main business interests are in the finance and investments sector, particularly the fintech industry, as founder and chief executive of the Brazilian neobank Nubank. Net-worth estimates for Velez vary across sources, so a single current figure is not reported here.
4. Joao Moreira Salles
Joao Moreira Salles, born in 1962, is a male, non-self-made billionaire. His wealth comes from banking and minerals, tied to the Moreira Salles family interests in Itau Unibanco and the niobium producer CBMM. Net-worth estimates vary across sources, so a single current figure is not reported here.
5. Walther Moreira Salles Junior
Walther Moreira Salles Junior was born in 1956 and is a male. He is a member of the Moreira Salles family, whose wealth is derived from banking and minerals through holdings in Itau Unibanco and CBMM. Net-worth estimates vary across sources, so a single current figure is not reported here.
Sources:
Forbes World’s Billionaires List (2026)
Bloomberg Billionaires Index
B3 Bora Investir — Forbes 2026 Brazilian billionaires (Mar 2026)
Last updated: June 19, 2026
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