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Carlos Slim: biography of Mexico's richest man penetrates 'cloak of silence' Carlos Slim: biography of Mexico's richest man penetrates 'cloak of silence'
(1 day later)
Piercing the veil of secrecy surrounding one of world’s richest and most private businessmen was never going to be straightforward. In the end it took eight years, more than 100 interviews, 400 rejections and oodles of patience to write the most comprehensive biography of Carlos Slim to date – a process the author likens to his investigation of another influential enigmatic Mexican: fugitive drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.Piercing the veil of secrecy surrounding one of world’s richest and most private businessmen was never going to be straightforward. In the end it took eight years, more than 100 interviews, 400 rejections and oodles of patience to write the most comprehensive biography of Carlos Slim to date – a process the author likens to his investigation of another influential enigmatic Mexican: fugitive drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
“The powerful usually create a cloak of silence around them which, in countries such as Mexico, is particularly difficult to pierce,” author Diego Enrique Osorno told the Guardian. “The powerful usually create a cloak of silence around them which, in countries such as Mexico, is particularly difficult to pierce,” author Diego Enrique Osorno said.
Slim: A Political Biography of the Richest Mexican in the World is the culmination of interviews with influential politicians, business leaders and others close to the world’s second-richest man – and Slim himself. Osorno eventually gained access to him for seven hours over three separate meetings.Slim: A Political Biography of the Richest Mexican in the World is the culmination of interviews with influential politicians, business leaders and others close to the world’s second-richest man – and Slim himself. Osorno eventually gained access to him for seven hours over three separate meetings.
Osorno may have convinced Slim to speak; however, Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and investment guru Warren Buffett, two of the men who regularly vie with him for the title of world’s richest man, were among 400 people who turned down interview requests. “Many people refused to speak with me because they were scared of upsetting the biographee,” Osorno said.Osorno may have convinced Slim to speak; however, Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and investment guru Warren Buffett, two of the men who regularly vie with him for the title of world’s richest man, were among 400 people who turned down interview requests. “Many people refused to speak with me because they were scared of upsetting the biographee,” Osorno said.
Patience was key, said Osorno. “For my [earlier] book on the Sinaloa Cartel, I had to prowl around another powerful Mexican businessman, but from the illegal world: Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. From this I learned that you have to proceed calmly in the land of power.”Patience was key, said Osorno. “For my [earlier] book on the Sinaloa Cartel, I had to prowl around another powerful Mexican businessman, but from the illegal world: Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. From this I learned that you have to proceed calmly in the land of power.”
Osorno recounts the story of how the son of Lebanese immigrants created one of the world’s biggest fortunes and a business empire that spans telecoms, healthcare, airlines, media, sports and retail. He also offers telling insights into the fiercely private mogul’s personal and professional lives, including a close brush with death in 1997.Osorno recounts the story of how the son of Lebanese immigrants created one of the world’s biggest fortunes and a business empire that spans telecoms, healthcare, airlines, media, sports and retail. He also offers telling insights into the fiercely private mogul’s personal and professional lives, including a close brush with death in 1997.
Slim suffered a massive haemorrhage on the operating table at Texas Heart Institute during surgery to replace a faulty heart valve, which required doctors to infuse 31 bags of blood. He was momentarily declared dead, he told Osorno.Slim suffered a massive haemorrhage on the operating table at Texas Heart Institute during surgery to replace a faulty heart valve, which required doctors to infuse 31 bags of blood. He was momentarily declared dead, he told Osorno.
This major health scare at the age of 57 prompted Slim to entrust his three sons with some of his most important ventures. But as he improved, he retook control.This major health scare at the age of 57 prompted Slim to entrust his three sons with some of his most important ventures. But as he improved, he retook control.
“As he recovered, he increased his empire, which curiously, ten years later, in 2007, led him to be the richest man in the world … I last saw him in the spring of 2015 and despite being 75 years old, he doesn’t appear to be retiring from business. He is still at the helm of the Carso Group.” “As he recovered, he increased his empire, which curiously, 10 years later, in 2007, led him to be the richest man in the world … I last saw him in the spring of 2015 and despite being 75 years old, he doesn’t appear to be retiring from business. He is still at the helm of the Carso Group.”
Slim, whose telecoms monopoly has helped create an estimated fortune of $77bn, is a divisive figure in his home country, where the middle class is burgeoning but almost half the population still lives in poverty.Slim, whose telecoms monopoly has helped create an estimated fortune of $77bn, is a divisive figure in his home country, where the middle class is burgeoning but almost half the population still lives in poverty.
“There are Mexicans who look at Slim with pride and see him as an aspirational figure … and there are those who consider him to be the symbol of our inequality. The book has provoked a very pertinent debate about extreme wealth and government regulation of monopolies,” said Osorno.“There are Mexicans who look at Slim with pride and see him as an aspirational figure … and there are those who consider him to be the symbol of our inequality. The book has provoked a very pertinent debate about extreme wealth and government regulation of monopolies,” said Osorno.
Slim’s astute mathematical brain and business vision are indisputable, but it is his ability to understand and navigate politics over many decades that has been the cornerstone to his success, concludes Osorno. “It has been his loyalty to the [political] system that has helped to consolidate a personal empire unimaginable in a country with more than 52 million people in poverty.”Slim’s astute mathematical brain and business vision are indisputable, but it is his ability to understand and navigate politics over many decades that has been the cornerstone to his success, concludes Osorno. “It has been his loyalty to the [political] system that has helped to consolidate a personal empire unimaginable in a country with more than 52 million people in poverty.”
As political commentator Denis Dresser recently wrote: “Slim emerged as a Mexican prototype of the Russian oligarchs, as someone who multiplied their fortunes under the shadow of power.”As political commentator Denis Dresser recently wrote: “Slim emerged as a Mexican prototype of the Russian oligarchs, as someone who multiplied their fortunes under the shadow of power.”
Osorno also chronicles previously unknown parts of the mogul’s family history. As a boy Slim enjoyed playing baseball – he was always the catcher - and American football in a public park in Mexico City’s middle class Polanco suburb, where he grew up.Osorno also chronicles previously unknown parts of the mogul’s family history. As a boy Slim enjoyed playing baseball – he was always the catcher - and American football in a public park in Mexico City’s middle class Polanco suburb, where he grew up.
Slim’s late wife was a cousin of Lebanese presidents Bashir and Amin Gemayel, and his immigrant father was linked to the rightwing Lebanese Kataeb party, accused of massacres in refugee camps in Lebanon.Slim’s late wife was a cousin of Lebanese presidents Bashir and Amin Gemayel, and his immigrant father was linked to the rightwing Lebanese Kataeb party, accused of massacres in refugee camps in Lebanon.
Using freedom of information requests, Osorno also documents how Slim’s brother Julian, who died in 2011, apparently interrogated suspected leftist insurgents while a member of Mexico’s feared, now defunct, intelligence agency the federal security directorate (DFS).Using freedom of information requests, Osorno also documents how Slim’s brother Julian, who died in 2011, apparently interrogated suspected leftist insurgents while a member of Mexico’s feared, now defunct, intelligence agency the federal security directorate (DFS).
One of the central questions explored in the book is whether Slim is a “good man”. His philanthropic projects are minor compared to those of Gates, Buffett and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, and he doesn’t believe giving people money solves problems, he told Osorno.One of the central questions explored in the book is whether Slim is a “good man”. His philanthropic projects are minor compared to those of Gates, Buffett and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, and he doesn’t believe giving people money solves problems, he told Osorno.
“These questions clearly made him uncomfortable, however he’s used to criticism especially about his monopolies. I think that at this time he is much more concerned about the drop in price of gold and the value of the dollar, which in recent months have contributed to him losing several billions of dollars from his fortune.”“These questions clearly made him uncomfortable, however he’s used to criticism especially about his monopolies. I think that at this time he is much more concerned about the drop in price of gold and the value of the dollar, which in recent months have contributed to him losing several billions of dollars from his fortune.”
The billionaire’s hunger for success shows no sign of abating with age.The billionaire’s hunger for success shows no sign of abating with age.
In the past few months, Slim has entered the bidding war in Mexico’s newly up-for-grabs oil fields, a move which could see him penetrate oil production for the first time. He just launched a clothing retail chain, Philosophy Jr Studio, to compete with Spanish clothing conglomerate Zara.In the past few months, Slim has entered the bidding war in Mexico’s newly up-for-grabs oil fields, a move which could see him penetrate oil production for the first time. He just launched a clothing retail chain, Philosophy Jr Studio, to compete with Spanish clothing conglomerate Zara.
The global success of Zara has elevated its co-founder Amancio Ortega to the status of world’s third richest man – hot on the heels of Slim, according to Forbes magazine’s annual poll.The global success of Zara has elevated its co-founder Amancio Ortega to the status of world’s third richest man – hot on the heels of Slim, according to Forbes magazine’s annual poll.
It’s hotly rumoured that Slim is about to buy one of the country’s biggest soccer teams, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, known locally as Las Chivas.It’s hotly rumoured that Slim is about to buy one of the country’s biggest soccer teams, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, known locally as Las Chivas.
“Without a doubt, he still has many ambitious projects,” said Osorno.“Without a doubt, he still has many ambitious projects,” said Osorno.
The book, which is not authorized by Slim, is currently only available in Spanish.The book, which is not authorized by Slim, is currently only available in Spanish.