Early Life
Shari Arison was born in New York City on September 9, 1957. Her father, Ted Arison, was a prominent businessman who founded Carnival Cruise Lines. Her parents divorced when she was nine years old, and she initially moved to Israel with her mother before returning to the United States at age 12 to live with her father. She later returned to Israel, and subsequently served in the Israel Defense Forces.
Rise to Success
Shari Arison inherited a significant fortune from her father, Ted Arison, who passed away in 1999. She leveraged this inheritance to become a successful businesswoman in her own right. Through Arison Investments, she has invested in various sectors. She also founded the Ted Arison Family Foundation in 1981, which supports a variety of philanthropic causes.
Key Business Strategies
Arison has focused on values-led businesses and philanthropic organizations. She created "The Doing Good Model," a set of guidelines for incorporating social good into business practices. Arison has invested in various real estate projects, including a desalination plant and a thermo-solar power plant. She gradually reduced her stake in Bank Hapoalim, selling the last of it in 2024. She has also been involved in infrastructure and real estate through Shikun & Binui, the largest infrastructure and real estate group in Israel.
Philanthropy
Shari Arison is heavily involved in philanthropy through The Ted Arison Family Foundation, which supports social, educational, and cultural causes. She launched Good Deeds Day in Israel, an annual event that encourages community service. Good Deeds Day has expanded to include hundreds of thousands of participants across multiple countries. Additionally, she established Goodnet.org, an online platform to connect volunteers with organizations and businesses.
