Guma Aguiar

Guma Leandro Aguiar
Guma Leandro Aguiar
Born	31 May 1977 (age 49); Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died	29 January 2015 (aged 37)
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for	Energy sector entrepreneurship; philanthropy supporting Jewish organizations; investment in Beitar Jerusalem Football Club

Guma Leandro Aguiar (born May 31, 1977 – went missing June 19, 2012; officially declared deceased on January 29, 2015) was a Brazilian-born American entrepreneur and millionaire in the energy sector who split his residence between the United States and Israel. Aguiar was recognized for his charitable efforts supporting Jewish organizations such as Nefesh B'Nefesh and the March of the Living. In July 2009, he invested upwards of $4 million in the Beitar Jerusalem Football Club.

On June 20, 2012, Aguiar was reported missing after authorities discovered his unattended boat at Fort Lauderdale Beach. This event followed a federal court order issued the previous day requiring his mental health records to be submitted for a legal dispute involving his uncle, Thomas Kaplan.

He was legally pronounced dead in January 2015.

Early life and education

Born on May 31, 1977, in Rio de Janeiro, Aguiar was one of four siblings to Ellen (née Kaplan), a Jewish mother, and Otto de Souza Aguiar, a Christian father. His maternal uncle is billionaire investor Thomas Kaplan, while his father worked as an artist and model. Although raised in the Christian faith, Aguiar adopted religious Judaism at age 26 after an encounter with rabbi Tovia Singer. Since his mother was halachically Jewish, he did not undergo formal conversion.

When he was one year old, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He completed his studies at Westminster Academy Christian School in 1995 and briefly enrolled at Clemson University, leaving after one academic year.

Career

Aguiar held the positions of vice chairman and CEO of Leor Energy. His professional journey began in 1999 as a clerk on the NYMEX, concentrating on energy commodities such as natural gas. In 2001, he joined forces with his uncle, Thomas Kaplan, overseeing family investments spanning venture capital, private equity, and debt instruments. He was charged with establishing a U.S.-based energy firm focused on early-stage oil and gas exploration. After assembling a diverse asset base in Louisiana and Texas, he spearheaded Leor's acquisition of its principal property located in the Deep Bossier region of East Texas in 2003.

By 2005, under Aguiar’s guidance, Leor Energy completed full project financing arrangements, including an industrial partnership with Encana—a leading North American natural gas producer—and a joint venture within the Deep Bossier area. He also secured mezzanine financing through hedge fund Amaranth Capital LLC. Additionally, Leor Energy formed a strategic equity alliance with Goldman Sachs & Co.

From July 2002 to June 2003, Aguiar was affiliated with Cadence Resources as a member of its Board of Directors for Corporate Development.

Philanthropic activities

Aguiar oversaw the Lillian Jean Kaplan Foundation and donated more than US$8 million to Nefesh B'Nefesh, aiding Jewish immigration from North America and the United Kingdom to Israel. He was also a supporter of the March of the Living, which focuses on Holocaust remembrance and Zionist education.

In 2009, The Jewish Week recognized him as one of the "36 under 36" influential Jewish leaders. The previous year, he established the "Defender of Jerusalem Award," which honors public figures demonstrating strong advocacy for Jerusalem.

In October 2009, alongside his wife Jamie, Aguiar co-chaired Israel’s "Facing Tomorrow" Conference alongside President Shimon Peres, where he presented his perspective as a leading Israeli entrepreneur.

Jerusalem sports

On July 21, 2009, Aguiar injected more than US$4 million into the Beitar Jerusalem Football Club, which was experiencing critical financial distress prior to his involvement. His investment stemmed from a deep enthusiasm for the sport and a strong dedication to both Jerusalem and Israel.

By September 2009, Aguiar further extended his financial support by contributing upwards of $1.5 million to the city's premier basketball team, Hapoel Jerusalem.

These contributions elevated Aguiar's status within Israeli business and political spheres, where he frequently interacted with members of the Knesset and municipal officials.

He took an active role in overseeing both teams, maintaining regular communication with Beitar's general manager Itzik Kornfein and Hapoel's Dani Klein. In November 2009, Aguiar accompanied Kornfein on a scouting trip to Brazil to identify potential players for Beitar. Additionally, he attended practices and engaged with players and team personnel.

Supporters of Beitar attribute the team's Toto Cup triumph on January 26, 2010, to Aguiar’s financial commitment, despite the victory occurring while he was hospitalized. After the win, Kornfein attempted to deliver the trophy to Aguiar at the psychiatric facility but was refused entry; security personnel accepted the trophy on his behalf.

Personal life

Aguiar wed his high school love, Jamie Elizabeth Black—a Public Relations graduate from the University of Florida—in 2005. The couple had four children: Jacob, Lilly, Jonathan, and Leo.

He regarded immigrating to Israel as a lifelong aspiration. Prior to his disappearance, Aguiar divided his residence between Jerusalem’s Yemin Moshe neighborhood and South Florida.

Aguiar was acquainted with legal expert Alan Dershowitz and identified himself as a Zionist.

Criminal history

In 2009, Aguiar entered a no-contest plea regarding drug-related charges after marijuana was discovered in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Florida. He asserted that law enforcement targeted him unfairly and alleged mistreatment during incarceration. For his defense, Aguiar retained Alan Dershowitz. In 2011, his wife Jamie sought a domestic violence protective order against him; subsequently, he filed for divorce, though both proceedings were ultimately suspended.

Mental health

Aguiar was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder accompanied by psychosis, having experienced his initial psychotic episode at age 19. He underwent multiple hospitalizations due to mental health challenges. In January 2010, his mother arranged for his involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital in Israel. By 2011, due to his condition’s severity, both his wife and mother petitioned for legal guardianship over him—a request granted by a Miami-Dade court.

During litigation initiated by his uncle, Thomas Kaplan, a judge observed that Aguiar’s psychosis presented through grandiose and paranoid delusions. On the day he vanished in June 2012, a federal judge ordered an independent psychiatric evaluation to determine his fitness for deposition.

Two days following his disappearance, Aguiar’s mother petitioned for conservatorship over his estate valued near $100 million, citing concerns about his severe bipolar disorder and risks related to mental instability or potential death.

Disappearance

On June 20, 2012, the 31-foot Jupiter vessel named T.T. Zion owned by Aguiar was discovered at Fort Lauderdale Beach with its engines still running and navigation lights illuminated. Sea Tow, hired by local officials to tow the boat, noted it was in good condition and showed no signs of mechanical failure. Aguiar’s wallet and mobile phone remained on board; however, he and any other occupants were absent. Authorities launched searches both along the shoreline and offshore, involving the Coast Guard, but these efforts yielded no clues.

By mid-2013, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department confirmed the case was still active but had not made meaningful headway. On January 29, 2015, nearly two years and seven months after Aguiar vanished, he was officially declared deceased.