The eighth richest man in the world hails from Brazil, which this week claimed it had surpassed Britain and France to become the world's fifth largest economy. That incredible growth has allowed a Brazilian businessman like Eike Batista to more than quadruple his net worth to $30 billion over the past four years. He serves as chairman of the holding company EBX Group, which has stakes in mining, shipbuilding, energy, logistics, tourism, and entertainment. The son of a former mining minister, Mr. Batista credits most of his wealth to oil and gas exploration.
Writes Forbes: "Brazil's richest man is gearing up to take over the world. Making a play for foreign investors, Batista announced this year the opening of an office in New York and his intention to list some of his companies on the London Stock Exchange."
