Silvio Santos

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Sílvio Santos

Sílvio Santos (real name Senor Abravanel, born in December 12, 1930) is a TV show host in Brazil and owner of SBT, the second largest Brazilian television network.

Santos was born in Rio de Janeiro and had a knack for business from a young age. He began working as a street vendor. He is Jewish and he was born to Turkish and Greek Jewish immigrant parents. Despite his initial job as a street vendor, he had a strong affinity for artistic endeavors and began working on radio, the circus and television, but without abandoning entrepreneurial activities. His nickname in the old days was "O peru que fala" (the talking turkey) because of his blushed skin appearance.

He became one of the major TV show hosts on Brazilian TV. His major achievement was to found SBT in 1981. He is one of the richest men in Brazil and still continues working as a TV show host. His characteristic laughter and his special "tie" microphone (oversized and obsolete, but a trademark) is one of the trademarks of Brazilian television. More than a simple show host, entertainer and businessman, Silvio Santos is part of the popular culture in Brazil, even having his own version of "Silvio Santos facts", usually praising his huge bank account.

He is also one of the most imitated characters on the Brazilian TV.

He has influenced Brazilian television in many ways, particularly by producing Brazilian versions of popular international formats Candid Camera, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Biggest Loser, Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, the RTL Idols franchise, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.

He was a candidate in the Brazilian presidential elections of 1989, but was disqualified during the campaign on a technicality.