Carlos Slim has crossed a new frontier. According to the newspaper Reforma, the 83-year-old richest man in Mexico has surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time in his life. The telecommunications tycoon has taken advantage of the context of the super peso, which has seen the Mexican currency rise by around 14% against the dollar this year. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Slim earned around $27 billion in 2023.
Slim is the richest citizen in Mexico and Latin America. Forbes magazine this year ranked him eighth richest person in the world in its annual list, which he topped 12 years ago. His 100 billion fortune comes from several multinational companies, including the largest company, América Móvil. Also from Grupo Carso, a huge conglomerate of commercial, industrial, communications or consumer companies, whose shares have risen 109% in 2023 and are the best performers in the Mexican benchmark index.
Last year, Slim also took over Zama, a giant oil company. Another of his companies, Spain's FCC, raised $1.1 billion by selling a 25 percent stake to Canadian pension operator CPPIB. The businessman has diversified his businesses over the years, although the telecommunications sector is his favorite. It is the main shareholder in América Móvil and Grupo Carso, with holdings in sectors ranging from construction to finance and mining. In Spain, the Mexican businessman is the first shareholder of FCC and Realia. He is also a shareholder in PRISA, the publishing group of this newspaper.
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