Early Life
Walther Moreira Salles Júnior was born on April 12, 1956, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His father, Walter Moreira Salles, was a diplomat, which led to young Walther residing in France and the United States during his childhood.
Rise to Success
Salles attended the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. His first major film was "Foreign Land" released in 1995. However, he gained international acclaim with "Central Station" in 1998, which earned two Academy Award nominations and won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award. Salles further solidified his reputation with "The Motorcycle Diaries" in 2004. He has directed over 20 films.
Key Business Strategies
Salles, along with his three brothers, also owns a significant stake in CBMM, the world's leading supplier of niobium. This diversified his wealth beyond filmmaking into the minerals industry. His family has a controlling stake in Itaú Unibanco, the largest bank in Latin America.
Philanthropy
The information about the exact amount of Walther's philanthropy could not be found.