CARLOS SLIM HELU

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CARLOS SLIM HELU BIOGRAPHY
Carlos Slim Helú, born on January 28, 1940, in Mexico City, is a renowned Mexican businessman, investor, and philanthropist, best known for his position as one of the richest individuals globally. Of Lebanese descent, Slim’s family emigrated to Mexico in the early 20th century. His father, Julián Slim Haddad, was a successful businessman who instilled financial acumen in Slim from a young age, teaching him about investing and managing money.
Slim studied civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) but quickly showed an affinity for finance. By his early 20s, he was already investing in various businesses across different sectors. His strategic investments grew over the years, and in 1965, he founded Inversora Bursátil, his stock brokerage firm, which laid the foundation for his future conglomerate.
Through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso, Slim became a dominant figure in Mexico’s business landscape, with interests spanning industries such as telecommunications, retail, banking, energy, and construction. His empire expanded further when he acquired Telmex, the national telecommunications company, during Mexico’s privatization efforts in the 1990s. Telmex, later part of América Móvil, became one of the largest telecommunications companies in Latin America, significantly contributing to Slim’s immense fortune.
Throughout his career, Slim has maintained a pragmatic business philosophy focused on minimizing debt and strategically acquiring undervalued assets during times of economic downturns. His financial strategies have earned him repeated rankings as one of the wealthiest people in the world, holding the title of the richest person from 2010 to 2013.
Beyond his business ventures, Slim is a prominent philanthropist. Through the Carlos Slim Foundation, he has supported initiatives in education, healthcare, sports, and the arts. His contributions have had a significant impact on Mexico and Latin America, including the construction of hospitals and museums and large-scale donations to fight diseases and alleviate poverty.
Despite his vast wealth, Slim has maintained a relatively low profile and a humble lifestyle compared to other billionaires. He continues to focus on expanding his businesses and giving back to society through his various charitable foundations.