Shari Arison

Shari Arison

Arison in 2009
Born 1957 (age 58–59)
New York, U.S.
Ethnicity Jewish
Citizenship American-Israeli
Occupation Businesswoman and philanthropist
Organization Arison Group
Net worth Increase US$ 4.5 billion (2015)[1]
Spouse(s) Jose Antonio Suarez (divorced)
Miki Dorsman (divorced)
Ofer Glazer (divorced)
Children four
--three with Suarez
--one with Dorsman
Parent(s) Ted Arison
Mina Arison Sapir
Relatives Micky Arison (brother)
Website www.shariarison.com

Shari Arison (Hebrew: שרי אריסון; born 1957) is an American-born Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist, and Israel's wealthiest woman. She is the owner of Arison Investments that comprises several business companies, the largest among them Bank Hapoalim, and of several philanthropic organizations that are subsidiaries of The Ted Arison Family Foundation.

According to Forbes, she is the richest woman in the Middle East, and the only woman to be ranked in the region's top-20 richest people in 2007.[2][3] As of 2014, Forbes estimated her fortune at US$ 4.9 billion, making her the 312th-wealthiest person in the world, and the fourth-wealthiest in Israel.[1]

Biography

Arison was born in New York, and is the daughter of the businessman Ted Arison and Mina Arison Sapir. She has an older brother, Micky. In 1966 her parents divorced, and she moved to reside with her mother in Israel. At the age of 12 she returned to the US to live with her father, and five years later she returned to Israel in order to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.

In 1999 Arison's father died, and bequeathed her 35% of his possessions. In 2003, she caused a big wave of protest after 900 workers were fired from Bank Hapoalim.

In March 2009, Arison sponsored Israel’s third annual “Good Deeds Day” in which her non-profit organization, Ruach Tova, inspired thousands of Israelis to get involved in volunteering across the country.[4] As part of the event, which took place near Tel Aviv, a Palestinian youth orchestra performed in an hour-long concert in honor of Holocaust survivors.[5] They played classical Arabic tunes and songs of peace, but upon the group’s return to Jenin, authorities condemned the orchestra’s leader for her “exploitation of the children for political purposes.”[6] The event garnered lots of media attention from around the world.[7][8][9] Following the concert to celebrate “Good Deeds Day”, the orchestra conductor was expelled from her hometown of Jenin.[6]

Arison was awarded the America–Israel Friendship League's Partners for Democracy award in 2010.[10]

Personal life

Arison has been married and divorced three times.[11] Her first husband was Jose Antonio Suarez, an officer on one of the ships owned by her father;[11] they had three children.[12] Her second husband, was basketball player Miki Dorsman;[11] they had one child.[12] Her third husband was Ofer Glazer.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Shari Arison". Forbes. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Forbes topic page on Shari Arison. Accessed March 2010.
  3. ↑ 7 Israelis on Forbes' list of richest Mideast billionaires – Israel Money, Ynetnews
  4. ↑ Be part of a day that is all good, Ynet News, Published March 17, 2009.
  5. ↑ Essay: If dialogue is a crime, we are all guilty, by David Saranga, Jerusalem Post, Published April 16, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Concert for Holocaust Survivors Is Condemned, By ISABEL KERSHNER and KHALED ABU AKER, New York Times, Published March 29, 2009.
  7. ↑ Real roadblocks to peace, By Abraham Cooper & Harold Brackman, Ynet News, Published April 8, 2009.
  8. ↑ Israel Faces Soul-Searching Double Standard, By Cathy Young, Jewish Journal, Published April 8, 2009.
  9. ↑ Center Field: Don't Cry For Us, New York Jewry, Turkish Weekly, Published April 14, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Shari Arison Receives Award From The America-Israel Friendship League: 'Through Business And Philanthropy, We Can Bring Goodness To The Entire World'". TheStreet.com. GlobeNewswire. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Jerusalem Post: "Grapevine: Three divorces and a wedding" by GREER FAY CASHMAN September 8, 2011
  12. 1 2 Haaretz: "From riches to riches - It's a difficult time for billionaire Shari Arison. Instead of hearing praise for her philanthropy, she finds herself trying to justify the massive layoffs at Bank Hapoalim, in a PR effort gone badly wrong" By Neri Livneh January 29, 2003

External links

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