Eike Batista

Eike Batista is the 8th richest man in the world and the richest man in Brazil with nearly $ 27 billion according to Forbes Magazine.

Son of the captain of industry Eliezer Batista, Eike Batista follows his father in Europe, and lives in Geneva, Dusseldorf and Brussels. In 1974 he began studying engineering at the University of Aachen, Germany. In the early 80s, he returned to Brazil and became an intermediary between producers of gold or other minerals and buyers coming from Brazilian and European metropolises. He speaks fluently in five languages: Portuguese, German, French, English and Spanish.

In the 80s, he founded his company: EBX, whose name is formed from his initials and the sign "X" symbol of the multiplication of wealth ... It is when he is at the head of the Canadian company TVX Gold that begins his long career in the markets. Soon, Batista buys and operates eight gold mines in Brazil and Canada, a silver mine in Chile and three iron ore mines in Brazil. Investments that are effective since he sells in 2007 two of his Brazilian iron ore mines to Anglo American for 3.5 billion euros.

From the 2000s, aware of the enormous needs of his country in natural resources and infrastructure, Eike Batista diversifies his activities creating between 2004 and 2010: MMX (minerals), LLX (logistics), MPX (energy), OSX (sites shipyards) and OGX (oil and gas). With this latest creation, he acquired the rights to operate a dozen oil fields off the Brazilian coast because according to him, within ten years and with the layers located in deep water, his country will produce as much as Saudi Arabia.

Batista has also bought the Hotel Gloria, one of the most famous hotel in Rio for $ 32 million, and he recently becomes the exclusive reseller for tickets for the next World Cup football in 2014 in Brazil.