Eike Batista
Illustration by Esra Roise
Brazilian oil and mining magnate Eike Batista has two modest ambitions: to become the wealthiest person on the planet and to transform Rio de Janeiro into one of the world's most dynamic cities. Batista has a way to go with goal No. 1 -- with a mere $30 billion, he's ranked No. 8 -- but his Rio revamp is steaming ahead. He's spent some $230 million cleaning up the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, sprucing up a marina, renovating a hotel, and building a hospital. The shiny new city will get its global debut in 2014, during the World Cup.
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Watch a video showing how Batista's investments are revitalizing Rio de Janeiro.
