Silvio Santos
From Free net encyclopedia
Silvio Santos (born Senor Abravanel on December 12 1930) is a TV show host in Brazil and owner of SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão), the second biggest Brazillian television network.
Coming from a Jewish, Turkish and Greek background, Santos was born in Rio de Janeiro and had a knack for business from a young age. He began working as a street vendor. However, he had a strong affinity for artistic endeavors and began working on radio, the circus and television, but without abandoning entrepreneurial activities.
He became one of the major TV show hosts on Brazilian TV. His major achievement was to found SBT in 1981. He is one of the richest men in Brazil and still continues working as a TV show host. His characteristic laughter is one of the trademarks of the Brazilian television.
He has innovated Brazilian television in many ways, producing Brazilian versions of popular foreign shows such as Candid Camera, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Biggest Loser, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud and American Idol.
He tried to run for the Brazilian presidential elections of 1989, but was disqualified during the campaign, on a technicality.
Silvio Santos' fortune amounts close to 1 billion reais (nearly 500 million dollars).