Early Life
Wesley Mendonça Batista was born on December 8, 1972, in Brazil. He is the son of José Batista Sobrinho, the founder of JBS S.A. At the age of 15, he began working with his father.
Rise to Success
Batista co-founded JBS S.A., a major Brazilian meatpacking company. He served as the president of JBS and oversaw the company's operations in the US after acquiring Swift in 2007. In 2011, he became the global CEO of JBS. Wesley and his brother Joesley took control in the 2000s, leading JBS's 2007 acquisition of U.S. pork and beef processor Swift & Co. for $225 million. In June 2025, he was elected President of the JBS Board of Directors.
Key Business Strategies
Wesley and his brother Joesley were instrumental in JBS's acquisition of Swift & Company in 2007, which significantly expanded the company's presence in the U.S. market. They also oversaw a decade-long acquisition spree.
Philanthropy
While specific philanthropic amounts are not available in the provided sources, his family has been involved in philanthropy. Wesley's family founded "Escola Germinare" which offers complimentary education for low-income students.