http://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-behind-the-safras-bankings-most-mysterious-family-2012-6#
I happen to know this story through past company partnership.
Safra family is little known to the US people. But it is very influential banker in Brazil.
So the story goes like this:
Joseph Safra wanted to build his Banco Safra HQ on Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. Avenida Paulista is also called the Wall Street of Brazil.
He wanted to have the entire highrise building's wall tiled with beautiful Brazilian granite but worried that if he bought from retail market, the color will not be consistant. So instead, he spend multi-millions for a granite mine. He mined all the materials with the same color. After he finished the building project in a couple of years, he turned around and sold the mine for a profit. That means the building walls were free.
Such is true TZLC, better than to be a landlord. LOL
There are more stories like this. Some of them proved that he does not always have winning hands. But overall, Safra family is getting rich every day.
p.s. The family member was hijacked for ransom a time or two. So they fly their private B737 to Europe or US for shopping trips. :)
