Who is Vicky Safra? That is the question many people ask when they find out that this woman is the richest person in Brazil. I confess I didn’t know much about her until I started researching, and I found her story quite interesting.

Vicky Safra is the widow of banker Joseph Safra, who passed away in 2020. After that, she took over the management of one of the largest private fortunes in the world. What caught my attention is how she remains extremely discreet — she rarely appears in the media, doesn’t give interviews, nothing. That’s quite rare for someone with an estimated fortune of around 16.6 billion dollars.

The Safra family’s history begins long before Brazil. Back in the 19th century, their ancestors were involved in financing trade caravans in the Ottoman Empire, using camels to transport goods. Interesting, right? Later, in 1953, Jacob Safra migrated to Brazil and founded Safra Importação e Comércio, starting banking operations that became the foundation of the financial empire.

Joseph Safra, Jacob’s son, grew up in an international environment — he lived in England, the United States, and Argentina before settling permanently in Brazil. It was here that he met Vicky Sarfaty, a young woman of Jewish origin. They married in 1969, when Vicky was only 17 years old. The couple had four children, all prepared from an early age to take on responsibilities in the business.

Now, who is Vicky Safra in business? She is responsible for the family’s wealth management after her husband’s death. The main assets include Banco Safra in Brazil, J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland (with a global presence in private banking), as well as assets under management estimated at around 90 billion dollars. The family also owns an impressive portfolio of high-end international real estate, such as the famous Gherkin building in London and a property at 660 Madison Avenue in New York.

What’s interesting is that not all children work directly in banking management. Some have taken different paths — one founded ASA Investments, another runs a school in São Paulo, and there’s also involvement in the payments sector. This shows that the Safra family has a very broad range of interests.

Currently, Vicky lives in Switzerland and leads a very reserved life. Her public activity mainly focuses on the Vicky and Joseph Safra Foundation, which invests in education, arts, health, and hospitals. Philanthropy has always been important to this family.

What impresses me about Vicky Safra is precisely this combination: one of the wealthiest women in the world, yet she chooses to stay out of the spotlight. While many billionaires seek visibility, she prioritizes financial solidity, governance, and long-term capital preservation. In a volatile market environment, the Safra family’s model continues to be a global reference in wealth strategy and stability.