Elie Horn
Elie Horn | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944 Aleppo, French Mandate for Syria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder and president of Cyrela Brazil Realty |
| Spouse | Susy Horn |
| Children | 3 |
Elie (Eli) Horn (born 1944) is a Brazilian billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, known as the founder and president of Cyrela Brazil Realty.
Biography
Horn was born into a Jewish family in Aleppo during the period of the French Mandate for Syria. He relocated to Brazil at the age of 11. During his youth, he collaborated with his brother Joe Horn in real estate projects in São Paulo, which provided him with valuable industry experience. After obtaining a law degree from Mackenzie University, he established Cyrela in 1962, which developed into Brazil's leading publicly listed luxury residential property developer.
Cyrela Brazil Realty
As the principal shareholder, chairman, and former CEO of Cyrela Brazil Realty, Horn oversees operations spanning 17 states in Brazil, as well as activities in Argentina and Uruguay. The firm employs 15,000 people and has served more than 8,000 customers, delivering over 70,000 residential units between 2015 and 2018. Cyrela is traded on the Brazilian stock exchange with a market value of approximately $2 billion.
Horn has been at the helm since Cyrela’s inception in 1978 and its formal establishment as Brazil Realty in 1994. He stepped down from the CEO role in 2014, entrusting management to his sons Raphael and Efraim, who now serve as co-CEOs.
Business philosophy and achievements
Forbes recognizes Horn as a prominent figure in real estate who launched Cyrela Brazil Realty in 1978 and expanded it into the foremost developer of upscale residential projects in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. His growth strategy included forming key development alliances throughout Brazil. Additionally, Horn holds investments in the agricultural firm BrasilAgro. Renowned for maintaining a discreet public profile and for his philanthropic commitments—donating one-fifth of his income—he has expressed intentions to allocate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. Reflecting on his approach, he stated in 2008: "My history is to make money when there is a boom, not when there is a crisis."
Philanthropy
- Horn has contributed substantial funds to Israeli initiatives, including donations totaling $6 million to the state.
- He actively supports programs aimed at assisting the Haredi community, notably through the Kemach Foundation established in 2007 to enhance Haredi workforce participation. Alongside philanthropists such as Leo Noe and Zev Wolfson, Horn has played a key role in advancing these efforts.
In 2015, Horn and his wife Susy became the first Brazilians to join Warren Buffett's The Giving Pledge, committing to donate 60% of their wealth over their lifetimes.
Net worth
Since 2006, Horn has been featured on Forbes' list of billionaires. In 2015, following a 3.2% contraction in Brazil’s GDP and a 55% decline in Cyrela Brazil’s market value, his net worth decreased to roughly $500 million, temporarily removing him from the list. By March 2018, Forbes estimated his fortune at approximately US$1 billion.
Personal life
Horn is married to Susy and they have three children together.