José Roberto Marinho Net Worth

José Roberto Marinho has an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, José Roberto Marinho profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $2.5 billion in 2019.

José Roberto Marinho is a Brazilian businessman and one of the three billionaire brothers who control Grupo Globo, Brazil's largest media group. He was born on December 26, 1955, in Rio de Janeiro, the son of communications tycoon Roberto Marinho. He is vice-president of Grupo Globo and president of the Roberto Marinho Foundation.

He is married with five children and still lives in Rio de Janeiro. While his brothers João Roberto and Roberto Irineu are also deeply involved in the media business, José Roberto has become the family's leading voice on philanthropy, culture and the environment.

His public work reaches well beyond television. He is a trustee of Rare, an international conservation group based in the United States. In 1992 he founded the Acqua Institute, which works to protect water resources. Through the family foundation he has supported education and culture, including the creation of the world's first museum dedicated to the Portuguese language.

How José Roberto Marinho made his money

The Globo empire began in 1925, when his grandfather launched a newspaper. His grandfather died just 25 days after the first issue came out, so the oldest son, Roberto Marinho, took over and spent decades building the business. Today Globo Group owns Rede Globo, Brazil's largest TV broadcaster, as well as Brazil's largest newspaper company and Globosat, its largest pay TV provider.

José Roberto built some of the business himself. In 1991 he founded CBN, the first Brazilian radio network to broadcast news around the clock. When his father died in 2003 at age 98, José Roberto and his brothers inherited control of Grupo Globo. His share of that family-held group is the source of his fortune.

How Forbes has valued José Roberto Marinho

Forbes put Marinho at $2.5 billion in 2019. His figure fell to $1.8 billion in 2020 and stayed there in 2021, then edged up to $2 billion in 2022 before dropping back to $1.8 billion in 2023.

Since then his estimate has climbed. Forbes valued him at $2.1 billion in 2024, $3 billion in 2025 and $4.1 billion on its 2026 World's Billionaires List, his highest figure so far. As of October 20, 2026, the Forbes real-time billionaires tracker showed $3.4 billion. Because Globo is privately held, his estimate reflects Forbes' view of the group's value.