Carlos Slim's net worth is estimated at around $125 billion, according to Forbes' 2026 Billionaires list, nearly double the figure often cited from a decade ago. His fortune is built on Grupo Carso, the telecommunications giant America Movil, and Telmex, the former Mexican state phone monopoly he acquired during the country's 1990s privatization wave.
Slim stepped back from day-to-day management of his business empire after heart surgery in 1999, handing much of the operational control to his children, though he has remained active in major strategic decisions, including a 2024 stake in British telecom company BT Group.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Carlos Slim Helu |
| Born | January 28, 1940, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Known For | Grupo Carso, America Movil, Telmex |
| Peak Ranking | World's richest person, per Forbes, 2010-2013 |
| Family | Six children (Carlos, Marco Antonio, Patrick, Soumaya, Vanessa, Johanna); widower since 1999 |
| Recent Move | Acquired a stake in BT Group (2024), rising to about 4.3% |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $125 billion |
Early Life
Carlos Slim Helu was born on January 28, 1940, in Mexico City, to Julian Slim, a businessman of Lebanese descent who taught him to read financial statements and manage money from a young age. Slim began investing in government savings bonds at 11 and made his first stock purchase at 12. He studied civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, graduating in 1961.
Building a Business Empire
After working as a stock trader, Slim founded the investment firm Inversora Bursatil and later Grupo Carso, expanding across industries including construction, mining, real estate, and telecommunications through the 1960s and 1970s. During Mexico's economic downturns in the 1980s, he bought distressed Mexican companies at low valuations and resold them once markets recovered -- a strategy that spread his risk across multiple industries. His fortune accelerated dramatically in the 1990s when Grupo Carso acquired Telmex, the former state telephone monopoly, during Mexico's wave of privatizations; that stake became the foundation for America Movil, now Latin America's largest mobile carrier.
Health, Succession, and Recent Moves
Following heart surgery in 1999, Slim passed much of the day-to-day management of his companies to his children, particularly his three sons, while remaining involved in major strategic decisions. In 2024, he acquired a stake of around 3% in British telecom company BT Group, later increasing it to about 4.3%.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Slim was married to Soumaya Domit from 1967 until her death in 1999. They had six children: sons Carlos, Marco Antonio, and Patrick, who hold key roles in the family businesses, and daughters Soumaya, Vanessa, and Johanna. Mexico City's Soumaya Museum is named for his late wife. Slim has donated billions of dollars through the Carlos Slim Foundation since 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carlos Slim's net worth?
Estimated at around $125 billion by Forbes' 2026 Billionaires list.
Is Carlos Slim still running his companies?
Not day-to-day. He handed most operational control to his children after 1999 heart surgery, though he remains involved in major strategic decisions.
How did Carlos Slim build his fortune?
Primarily through Grupo Carso and by acquiring Telmex, Mexico's former state telephone monopoly, during the country's 1990s privatization of state industries.