How Carlos Slim built his fortune

Carlos Slim was born in 1940, in Mexico City, Mexico. His parents, Julián Slim Haddad and Linda Helú Atta were both Maronite Catholics of Lebanese descent. Carlos’ father, born Khalil Salim Haddad Aglamaz, was sent to Mexico in 1902 to avoid being drafted into the Ottoman Army. After arriving in Mexico, Carlos’s father changed his name to Julián Slim Haddad.

In a community devoted to commerce, Julian Slim was a natural, opening a dry goods store in 1911, which grew to offer more than USD 100,000 worth of merchandise just 10 years later. With proceeds from the store, he…