🎂 Billionaire Birthday Bash: Jorge Paulo Lemann’s $19.6B Empire, Beer, and a Heartfelt Tribute to Lionel Messi’s Dad

Cheers to Jorge Paulo Lemann, the Swiss-Brazilian titan who turned a tennis racket into a $19.6 billion fortune—and a cold, frothy beer into a global conquest! Born on August 26, 1939, the 85-year-old is celebrating another orbit around the sun, and what a ride it’s been: from Harvard-educated finance whiz to the mastermind behind Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, where his ‘zero-based budgeting’ and relentless M&A hunger built a beverage behemoth that quenches thirsts on every continent. With a net worth that could buy a few billion pints, Lemann’s legacy isn’t just in the boardroom—it’s in the relentless pursuit of excellence, a mantra he’s passed to his three kids and the entire 3G Capital empire. So raise a glass, because today we’re toasting the man who proved that a killer backhand and a killer instinct for deals can brew up a life of pure gold.

But even billionaires pause for a somber note: this week, the sports world mourns Jorge Messi, father and longtime agent of Lionel Messi, who passed away at 68 in Rosario after a long illness. The elder Messi was the quiet pillar behind the greatest footballer ever—the one who drove him to practice, demanded his approval after every match, and negotiated his first Barcelona contract. His death, announced by Newell’s Old Boys and the Argentine FA, has sent waves of grief through the football universe, with Lionel’s tearful World Cup moments now understood as a son’s heartbreak over a father’s fading health. As Inter Miami weighs Lionel’s availability for Saturday’s Leagues Cup clash against Monterrey, the family’s statement—calling Jorge “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigour and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time”—echoes the same values Lemann champions: loyalty, rigor, and family first.

So as Lemann blows out the candles, let’s celebrate a life that mirrors the Messi saga: humble beginnings, relentless drive, and an unshakable bond with loved ones. Lemann’s latest wins? His investment firm, 3G, continues to reshape consumer giants, while his philanthropic arm, Fundação Estudar, has sent thousands of Brazilian kids to top universities—proof that his greatest asset isn’t cash, but character. And in a touching twist, Lemann, a lifelong sports fan, might raise a toast to Jorge Messi’s memory, honoring a father who, like Lemann, understood that true greatness is built on the shoulders of those who believe in you before you believe in yourself. Happy birthday, Jorge Paulo—may your next year be as frothy, bold, and full of heart as the empire you’ve crafted. And to the Messi family, you’re in our thoughts—here’s to the pillars we never forget. 🍻