Brazilian media giant Silvio Santos, a legendary figure who transformed himself from a street vendor into one of the most influential media moguls in Brazil, passed away at the age of 93.
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Silvio Santos, whose real name was Senor Abravanel, was best known as the owner of SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão), one of Brazil’s largest and most popular television networks. Over the decades, he became a household name, not only for his business acumen but also for his charisma as a television host. Santos’s rise from humble beginnings to the top echelons of the media industry is a story that has inspired millions in Brazil and beyond.
Image Credit: CNN Brasil
On Saturday, SBT confirmed the news of his passing, expressing their sorrow and paying tribute to their founder. “Today heaven is happy with the arrival of our beloved Silvio Santos,” the network posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Rest in Peace, you will always be eternal in our hearts.”
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Silvio Santos’s health had been deteriorating in recent weeks. According to medical reports, he succumbed to bronchopneumonia in the early hours of Saturday after battling a severe case of H1N1 flu. He had been hospitalized in Sao Paulo since the beginning of August, receiving treatment for his illness.
The passing of Silvio Santos has drawn reactions from across the country, including from Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The president took to X to share his condolences, describing Silvio Santos as “the greatest personality in the history of Brazilian television and one of the country’s great communicators.”
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