Vicky Safra
Greek-born Brazilian heir to the banker Joseph Safra; co-owner, with her children, of the J. Safra Group
| Vicky Safra
| |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1952 Greece |
| Nationality | Greece; Brazil |
| Residence | Switzerland |
| Occupation | Investor; heir |
| Known for | Co-owner of the J. Safra Group |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Safra (died 2020) |
| Children | 4, including Jacob Safra and David Safra |
Vicky Safra (born 1 July 1952) is the widow of the Brazilian banker Joseph Safra, who died in December 2020. With her children she controls the family's banking interests, the J. Safra Group, which includes Banco Safra in Brazil, Safra National Bank of New York and the Swiss private bank J. Safra Sarasin.[1][2] In 2024 she and her children settled litigation brought by her son Alberto Safra, who agreed to divest his interests in the group.[3][2] On 20 October 2026 the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list ranked Vicky Safra and family 92nd in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$25.91 billion; Forbes lists the source of wealth as Banking.[1][4] In the annual World's Billionaires list published in 2026, Forbes had ranked Vicky Safra and family 94th, at US$27.1 billion.[5]
Early life and family
Forbes gives her date of birth as 1 July 1952. It says she was born in Greece, holds Greek and Brazilian citizenship and lives mostly in Switzerland.[1] She married Joseph Safra, who died in December 2020 aged 82. Brazil's g1 describes him as a Lebanese national who became a naturalised Brazilian and as Brazil's richest man at the time of his death.[2] Forbes says the fortune passed to her and their four adult children, and that Joseph Safra's brothers Edmond (died 1999) and Moise (died 2014) were also billionaires.[1]
J. Safra Group
Forbes says her eldest son Jacob Safra is responsible for J. Safra Sarasin, Safra National Bank of New York and the family's international property. Her son David Safra runs Banco Safra and the group's Brazilian property holdings.[1]
In March 2025, according to Forbes, J. Safra Sarasin agreed to buy about 70% of Denmark's Saxo Bank in a deal valued at nearly US$1.2 billion.[1] The group announced the completion on 2 March 2026 after approval by the Swiss and Danish financial supervisors. It bought about 71% of Saxo from Geely Financials Denmark, Mandatum Group and minority holders, while founder Kim Fournais kept about 28%. The group put combined client assets at more than US$460 billion. Daniel Belfer, chief executive of Bank J. Safra Sarasin, became Saxo's chief executive.[6]
Inheritance dispute
Alberto Safra left the board of Banco Safra in November 2019 to found ASA Investments after a dispute with his younger brother David, according to g1. In 2023 he sued his mother and his brothers Jacob and David, alleging that they had deliberately diluted his stake in the Safra National Bank holding company.[2] On 19 July 2024 the family announced a global settlement ending all pending court and arbitration proceedings. Under it Alberto agreed to divest his interests in the J. Safra Group and pursue his own business through ASA. The family said Joseph Safra had been competent to dispose of his estate.[3] The financial terms were not disclosed.[2] Forbes says Alberto sold his stake to the other family members in 2024 and his sister Esther sold hers in early 2025, both for undisclosed sums.[1]
Wealth
Forbes gives banking as the source of the family's wealth.[1][4]
Wealth history
Forbes has included this entry in its annual World's Billionaires list in 6 of the editions from 2001 to 2026 checked for this profile, starting with 2021. The table gives the rank and estimated net worth in each annual list.[5][1]
| Year | World's Billionaires rank | Net worth (US$ bn) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 339 | 7.4 |
| 2022 | 321 | 7.4 |
| 2023 | 100 | 16.7 |
| 2024 | 94 | 20.6 |
| 2025 | 98 | 20.7 |
| 2026 | 94 | 27.1 |
International and political links
This section uses the same ten headings for every profile in this series. Only specific, sourced actions are included; company-level and foundation-level actions are labelled as such. Where nothing was found, the entry reads "No documented involvement found in sources checked."
Israel (investments, operations, donations, contracts, statements)
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Zionist or pro-Israel organisations and lobbying groups
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Jewish communal charities
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Gulf states
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
China
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Russia
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
India
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Palestinian or Arab causes
No documented involvement found in sources checked.
Home government
Greek and Brazilian citizen living mainly in Switzerland, according to Forbes.[1]
Other international links
Switzerland: the family controls the private bank J. Safra Sarasin. Denmark: the group took majority control of Saxo Bank in 2026, buying out shareholders including Geely Financials Denmark.[1][6] United States: the family owns Safra National Bank of New York.[1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Forbes, Forbes profile record for Vicky Safra (Forbes data feed behind forbes.com/profile/vicky-safra/) Forbes, live record, read 21 October 2026, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 g1, Família Safra chega a acordo e encerra disputa judicial por herança bilionária de Joseph g1 (Globo), 19 July 2024, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Safra Group (press release), The Joseph Safra Family Amicably Resolves Disputes PR Newswire, 19 July 2024, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Forbes, Forbes Real-Time Billionaires data feed Forbes, live; downloaded 20 October 2026 11:51 UTC, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Forbes, Forbes World's Billionaires list data feed, annual editions 2001–2026 (one file per year at this path with the year substituted; all 26 files downloaded and read) Forbes, annual lists; downloaded 20 October 2026, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J. Safra Sarasin Group, J. Safra Sarasin Group completes the acquisition of majority stake in Saxo Bank J. Safra Sarasin Group, 2 March 2026, accessed 21 October 2026.