Top 10 Richest Men In South America According To Forbes 2025

Hey my people! Today, let’s take a journey down to South America and look at the big men running the economic show. When we talk about money, investments, legacy businesses, and digital empires, these guys are not playing. In fact, if you're a young hustler or aspiring entrepreneur, there's a lot you can learn from the billionaires ruling the Latin American money scene.

Let me gist you properly. We’re looking at the Top 10 Richest Men in South America as of 2025, based on Forbes' latest rankings. These men are not just sitting on cash, they are deeply invested in telecoms, mining, banking, healthcare, beverages, and tech. Let’s break it down.

1. Carlos Slim Helú (Mexico)

• Net Worth: $82.5 billion

• Industry: Telecommunications, Construction, Banking, Retail

This man na baba for the billionaire game. Carlos Slim has been topping the list for over a decade in Latin America. He's the king of telecoms through his giant company, América Móvil, which operates in several countries including the U.S. and Brazil. But that’s not all—through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso, he owns stakes in retail, banking, construction, and even mining.

What makes Slim unique is his long-term vision. He buys undervalued businesses, transforms them, and builds empires. If you’re a student of wealth, study this man closely.

2. Eduardo Saverin (Brazil)

• Net Worth: $34.5 billion

• Industry: Tech, Investments

You know Facebook, abi? Well, Eduardo Saverin is one of the co-founders. Although he relocated to Singapore, Saverin is Brazilian by origin, and he's now one of the richest tech investors in the world.

His investment firm B Capital Group is one of the most aggressive venture capital firms globally. His wealth exploded alongside Meta's market value, especially as tech stocks rebounded after recent market corrections.

If you're a tech enthusiast in Nigeria thinking global, this guy should be on your radar. He's proof that coding and tech investments can change your life.

3. Germán Larrea Mota-Velasco (Mexico)

• Net Worth: $28.6 billion

• Industry: Mining

Mining is money, my people. Germán Larrea controls Grupo México, one of the biggest copper producers in the world. Copper is essential for everything—electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems—so you can imagine how lucrative the business is.

He has quietly built one of the most powerful industrial empires in Latin America. No noise, just wealth.

4. Iris Fontbona & Family (Chile)

• Net Worth: $28.1 billion

• Industry: Mining, Beverages, Banking

Iris is a strong woman. She took over her late husband Andrónico Luksic’s businesses and turned them into even greater empires. Through Antofagasta PLC, her family controls massive mining interests. But it doesn’t stop there – they also dominate Chile’s banking and beverages industries through Quiñenco.

She's one of the few female billionaires leading a legacy empire in Latin America. In a male-dominated space, her story inspires entrepreneurs, both women and men.

5. Jorge Paulo Lemann (Brazil)

• Net Worth: $15.4 billion

• Industry: Beverages, Investments

This man helped build brands that we all know globally like Budweiser, Burger King, and Heinz. He is a key figure behind 3G Capital, one of the most aggressive private equity firms worldwide.

His story is simple: find undervalued companies, cut costs, improve efficiency, and turn them into money machines. It’s the classic buy-fix-sell strategy.

6. Ricardo Salinas Pliego (Mexico)

• Net Worth: $12.4 billion

• Industry: Retail, Media, Banking

Salinas is the founder of Grupo Salinas, which owns TV Azteca, Elektra (a major retailer), and Banco Azteca. He’s involved in every corner of Mexican consumer life—from what they watch to how they shop and save.

He’s very vocal online too, sharing his views on entrepreneurship, capitalism, and even Bitcoin. A real media-savvy billionaire.

7. Marcel Herrmann Telles (Brazil)

• Net Worth: $10.3 billion

• Industry: Beverages

Another major shareholder in 3G Capital, Marcel Telles is a close ally of Jorge Paulo Lemann. He made his fortune through smart investments in the beverage industry, particularly via AB InBev, the world’s largest beer company.

If you enjoy cold drinks, just know this guy probably profits from it.

8. Luis Carlos Sarmiento (Colombia)

• Net Worth: $9.9 billion

• Industry: Banking, Construction

Colombia’s richest man, Sarmiento built Grupo Aval, a financial empire that covers banking, mortgages, and insurance. He also expanded into construction.

He’s not flashy at all but has been quietly compounding wealth for decades. His strategy is long-term, and his wealth is very stable.

9. Jorge Moll Filho (Brazil)

• Net Worth: $9.8 billion

• Industry: Healthcare

This man is Brazil's healthcare king. He founded Rede D’Or São Luiz, one of the largest hospital chains in Latin America. During and after COVID-19, demand for quality healthcare exploded, and his net worth followed suit.

Health is wealth, literally, and Moll proves that even service-based sectors can generate serious billions.

10. Carlos Alberto Sicupira (Brazil)

• Net Worth: $8.5 billion

• Industry: Beverages, Retail

Another partner in the famous 3G Capital triangle, Sicupira joined forces with Lemann and Telles to build their beverage empire. These three guys are legends in global private equity.

Together, they’ve shown how Brazilians can compete and dominate on a global level.

Summary Table of the Top 10 Richest Men in South America (2025)

Final Thoughts From a Naija Perspective

When we look at these South American billionaires, a few things stand out:

1. Legacy and family businesses matter: Many of these fortunes were inherited and grown strategically. Nigerians can learn how to preserve and grow generational wealth.

2. Tech and innovation are real wealth creators: Saverin became a billionaire by building tech from scratch. Nigerian tech bros and sisters, there’s hope!

3. Diversification is key: Whether it’s telecoms, beverages, or hospitals, these guys didn’t put all their eggs in one basket.

4. Private equity and smart investing pays: The 3G Capital trio are proof that joint ventures and investment firms can shake the world. Collaborate, don’t isolate.

My people, these billionaires are doing it big, and we can too. With discipline, long-term thinking, innovation, and maybe a little sprinkle of good timing, the next Carlos Slim could come out of Lagos or Abuja.