Shari Arison

Shari Arison (Hebrew: שרי אריסון‎; born (1957-09-09)September 9, 1957) is an American-born Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist, and Israel's wealthiest woman. She is the owner of Arison Investments, which comprises several business companies, and of The Ted Arison Family Foundation, which comprises several philanthropic organizations that operate as its subsidiaries. She was the controlling shareholder of Bank Hapoalim for 21 years, and after selling some of her shares in November 2018, she ceased to be the controlling shareholder at the bank. She was also an owner of Shikun & Binui for 22 years, sold to the Saidoff Group on August 6, 2018.

Shari Arison
Arison in 2009
Born (1957-09-09) September 9, 1957
New York City, U.S.
CitizenshipAmerican-Israeli
EducationDrop Out, Miami Dade College
OccupationBusinesswoman and philanthropist
Net worth US$ 3.8 billion (2019)[1]
Spouse(s)Jose Antonio Sueiras (divorced)
Miki Dorsman (divorced)
Ofer Glazer (divorced)
Childrenfour
--three with Sueiras
--one with Dorsman
Parent(s)Ted Arison
Mina Arison Sapir
RelativesMicky Arison (brother)
Websitewww.shariarison.com

As of 2007, 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 July 2020, Forbes estimated her fortune at US$ 3.8 billion, making her the 590th-wealthiest person in the world, and the fourth-wealthiest in Israel.[2]

Biography

Arison was born in New York City, and is the daughter of the businessman Ted Arison and Mina Arison Sapir.[4] She has an older brother, Micky. In 1966 her parents divorced and she moved to Israel to live with her mother. 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.[5][6]

In 2003, she was the target of protests after 900 workers were fired from Bank Hapoalim.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] They played classical Arabic tunes and songs of peace, but upon the group's return to Jenin, local Arab authorities condemned the orchestra's leader for her "exploitation of the children for political purposes."[10] The event garnered worldwide media attention.[11][12][13] Following the concert to celebrate "Good Deeds Day", the orchestra conductor was expelled from her hometown of Jenin.[10]

Arison was awarded the America–Israel Friendship League's Partners for Democracy award in 2010, for her contribution to promoting the economies of Israel and the United States.[14]

Business activities

Arison is own or is active in various businesses and philanthropic organizations, including:

Personal life

Arison has been married and divorced three times.[15] Her first husband was Jose Antonio Sueiras, an officer on one of the ships owned by her father;[15] they had three children.[16] Her second husband was basketball player Miki Dorsman;[15] they had one child.[16] Her third husband was Ofer Glazer.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Shari Arison". Forbes. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  2. Forbes topic page on Shari Arison. Accessed March 2010.
  3. 7 Israelis on Forbes' list of richest Mideast billionaires – Israel Money, Ynetnews
  4. Kerry A. Dolan (January 9, 2014). "Why Israel's Richest Woman Is Promoting The Business Benefits Of Doing Good". Forbes. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. "Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Shari Arison". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  6. "Profile: Shari Arison". Hadassah Magazine. 2013-12-10. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  7. "Poor Little Rich Girl". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  8. Be part of a day that is all good, Ynet News, Published March 17, 2009.
  9. Essay: If dialogue is a crime, we are all guilty, by David Saranga, Jerusalem Post, Published April 16, 2009.
  10. Concert for Holocaust Survivors Is Condemned, By ISABEL KERSHNER and KHALED ABU AKER, New York Times, Published March 29, 2009.
  11. Real roadblocks to peace, By Abraham Cooper & Harold Brackman, Ynet News, Published April 8, 2009.
  12. Israel Faces Soul-Searching Double Standard, By Cathy Young, Jewish Journal, Published April 8, 2009.
  13. Center Field: Don't Cry For Us, New York Jewry Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine, Turkish Weekly, Published April 14, 2009.
  14. "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.
  15. Jerusalem Post: "Grapevine: Three divorces and a wedding" by GREER FAY CASHMAN September 8, 2011
  16. 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
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