Top 100 Arabs 2024

8. Carlos Slim Helú

Honorary chairman, América Móvil

Origin: Lebanon/ Mexico

Residence: Mexico

Sector: Telecoms

2023 Rank: 7

Carlos Slim Helú started his business journey in 1965 by incorporating Inversora Bursátil, a stock brokerage firm.

The octogenarian billionaire is the honorary chairman of América Móvil, Latin America’s biggest telecoms company. Amid challenging market conditions last year, América Móvil reported that its Q4 2023 net profit soared by 31.7 per cent, reaching $1.065bn (18.062bn pesos).

Helu’s career extends beyond telecoms. He served as the vice president of the Mexican Stock Exchange and president of the Mexican Association of Brokerage Houses.

This self-made billionaire also has a diversified portfolio, including interests in construction, consumer goods, mining, and real estate companies across Mexico.

Helú, along with his family, maintains a dominant 76 per cent ownership stake in Grupo Carso, solidifying their position as a major force in Latin America’s conglomerate landscape.

Mohamed Alabbar

Mohamed Al Hammadi