Vicky Safra & family

Early Life

Vicky Safra, born Vicky Sarfati on July 1, 1952, in Thessaloniki, Greece, is of Sephardic Jewish heritage. Her family moved to Brazil in the 1950s. She married Joseph Safra in 1969 at the age of 17.

Rise to Success

Following Joseph Safra's death in December 2020, Vicky Safra became the controlling shareholder of the J. Safra Group. The family's wealth originates from banking, with roots tracing back to 19th-century Aleppo, Syria. The Safra Group operates globally, with major subsidiaries including Banco Safra S.A. in Brazil, J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland, and Safra National Bank of New York.

Key Business Strategies

The Safra Group emphasizes conservative financial practices, long-term stability, and client confidentiality. They focus on wealth preservation and growth for high-net-worth clients. Strategic acquisitions, such as the purchase of a majority stake in Denmark's Saxo Bank in March 2025, have expanded the group's presence.

Philanthropy

Vicky Safra leads the Vicky and Joseph Safra Philanthropic Foundation, supporting education, healthcare, arts, culture, and historic preservation. The foundation makes significant donations to institutions like the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo.