The director Walter Salles 68, from films like “Central do Brasil” and “I’m still here” occupies the post of richest filmmaker in the world, being behind only Steven Spielberg and George Lucas . With an estimated fortune in about R $ 30 billion according to Forbes, it is among the ten richest in Brazil.
However, the director’s wealth is not only originated in his film career, but in his family, linked to the banking sector and strategic investments in natural resources.
The trajectory of the fortune of the Moreira Salles dates back to the early twentieth century, when João Moreira Salles founded Casa Moreira Salles, which would become Banco Moreira Salles, then in Unibanco.
Walter Salles’s fortune is the result of the union between cinema and family inheritance. His grandfather founded Itaú Unibanco, the largest bank in Latin America, and his father, Walther Moreira Salles, was an important banker and ambassador.
Walther had a great influence on the country’s banking sector and finances, and was an important diplomat. He was ambassador in the United States and assumed leadership roles in various economic sectors in Brazil.
His career was marked by the ability to form powerful alliances and run big business, including the founding of Banco Moreira Salles, which later merged with other institutions to form Unibanco, later incorporated into Itaú.
Another significant pillar of family fortune is CBMM, where Moreira Salles control 70% of shares. Niobium, a highly valued metal for the high technology industry, was a discovery that was fundamental to the group’s prosperity.
The company dominates more than 75% of the global niobium market, a strategic asset that, by 2023, generated $ 4.9 billion in profits.
In addition to financial and mineral business, the family also invested in large agricultural properties, such as Cambuhy Agricultural, orange producer and sugar cane. Recently, the family has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of control of Alpargatas, the owner of the popular Hawaiian sandals.
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This content was originally published in “I’m still here”: know where director Walter Salles’s fortune comes from CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil

I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.