David Brillembourg

Jorge David Brillembourg
Born	Template:Birth date Maracaibo, Venezuela
Died	April 12, 1993(1993-04-12) (aged 50)
Occupation(s)	Economist, entrepreneur, art collector
Known for	President of Grupo Confinanzas, main investor behind the Tower of David

Jorge David Brillembourg (December 14, 1942 – April 12, 1993) was a Venezuelan economist and entrepreneur, who served as president of Grupo Confinanzas, held office as a congressional deputy, and was the main investor behind the Centro Financiero Confinanzas (commonly known as the Tower of David).

Career

Brillembourg completed his economics degree at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) in 1961, followed by an MBA with a focus on finance from Syracuse University in 1962.

His professional journey began in 1959 at the Central Bank of Venezuela, where he worked until 1964. Afterward, he assumed the role of vice president at Inversiones Capriles. Throughout his career, he also occupied executive positions within Finalven Group, Eastern Mortgage Bank, Textiven Group, and Veintiuno Consortium.

In 1985, Brillembourg established Confinanzas Banco Hipotecario, which grew through strategic acquisitions such as Banco Metropolitano and evolved into Sociedad Financiera Confinanzas (Grupo Confinanzas). This financial institution was placed under intervention by FOGADE amid the 1994 banking crisis in Venezuela.

During the stock market surge of the 1980s, Brillembourg accumulated considerable wealth, earning him the moniker "King David" within Venezuelan financial circles.

In 1990, he initiated a public stock offering for Cervecera Nacional, triggering a competitive clash with the leading industrial-financial alliance Grupo Polar-Banco Provincial. His gains from share sales were estimated at around $500 million.

On the political front, Brillembourg was elected as an independent deputy representing the Federal District on the COPEI ticket in 1964 at age 25. He was re-elected for subsequent terms spanning 1969-1973 and 1978–1983.

Tower of David

The construction of the Confinanzas Financial Center commenced in 1990 under Brillembourg’s direction. The complex comprised six buildings intended to house his banking operations. Tower A featured 45 floors and was projected to be Venezuela’s third tallest skyscraper and rank eighth across Latin America.

Following Brillembourg’s death in 1993, construction ceased in 1994 when the Venezuelan banking crisis unfolded. Financial institutions including Sociedad Financiera Confinanzas were placed under government intervention by FOGADE, which halted all work on the project. The skyscraper subsequently became known as "The Tower of David" as a tribute.

By 2001, FOGADE attempted to sell the property with a reserve price of $60 million but failed to attract any offers. The building remained deserted until it was illegally occupied, eventually transforming into Latin America’s largest vertical slum until residents were evicted in 2015.

Art

Alongside his wife Tanya Capriles de Brillembourg, he is recognized as one of Latin America’s most prominent art collectors. Their extensive collection features significant pieces such as “Woman with Bird” by Wifredo Lam (1955), “Abstract Composition” by Roberto Matta (1949), “Figura Bajo un-Uvero” by Armando Reveron (1920), “El Nuncio” by Fernando Botero (1962), and “Still Life with Lemons” by Diego Rivera (1916).

With over 100 artworks, this collection has been showcased internationally, including an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH) in 2013, emphasizing Latin American artists’ contributions to surrealism, cubism, and constructivism during their European periods in the twentieth century.

Horse riding

He managed horse ownership and breeding operations through David's Farm in the United States and Haras Tamarú in Venezuela. Among the distinguished horses from David's Farm were Alydavid, who secured victory in the 1991 Churchill Downs Derby Trial, as well as Niccolo Polo, Orne, and D.C. Tenacius. Haras Tamarú was responsible for producing several well-known Venezuelan racehorses, including Backyard, Modena, Background, Volcana, Marfe, Great Neige, and Boche Clavao.

According to INH records, he achieved the position of second highest breeder nationwide in 1987. Later, in 1998, his stallion Telefónico was acclaimed by breeders as the premier sire.