The news that the Banque J. Safra Sarasin is opening a branch in Athens brings to the Greek market not only yet another international name in private banking, but also a special Greek connection.
Behind the family-controlled group is Vicky Safra, one of the richest women in the world and the Greek-born wife of the late banker Joseph Safra.
Born in Greece in 1952, she moved with her family to Brazil when she was still a child. There, at the age of just 17, she married Joseph Safra, heir to a banking dynasty that had its roots in 19th-century Syria.
Joseph Safra built a global financial group, with the main pillars being Banco Safra in Brazil and J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland. When he died in December 2020, his fortune passed to Vicky and their four children, Jacob, David, Alberto and Esther.
Today, Forbes estimates the family fortune at about $25.2 billion, ranking Vicky Safra and her family among the richest families in the world. The wealth comes mainly from the Safra banking group, which has a presence in more than 30 countries and manages funds worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
The family also has a significant presence in real estate, with its most notable asset being 30 St Mary Axe, known as “The Gherkin”, in London.
She lives mainly in Switzerland and retains her Greek citizenship, while continuing to be connected to Greece, where she was born. Despite her enormous wealth, she has chosen to maintain a particularly low-profile public presence.
At the same time, the next generation is taking on an increasingly larger role. Jacob Safra is responsible for the international banking activities, while David manages Banco Safra in Brazil. In 2025, J. Safra Sarasin also agreed to acquire about 70% of Denmark's Saxo Bank, in a deal worth nearly $1.2 billion.
Thus, Vicky Safra remains at the center of one of the largest family fortunes in the world — an empire that began in trade in Ottoman Syria and evolved into an international banking group.
with information from Bloomberg, Forbes