Fortunes have been made in Quebec through a variety of means, including entrepreneurship, investing in real estate, developing natural resources, creating successful businesses in industries such as technology, telecommunications, and finance, and through strategic acquisitions and mergers. Many successful Quebec entrepreneurs and business leaders have also expanded their operations globally, leveraging their expertise and resources to create successful ventures outside of Quebec. Additionally, some individuals have built wealth through involvement in politics, entertainment, and sports. Here are the ten wealthiest from the province.
Related: The ten richest people in Ottawa
Alain Bouchard is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur who was born on April 22, 1949, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada. He is the co-founder and executive chairman of Alimentation Couche-Tard, one of the largest convenience store and gas station chains in the world.
Bouchard started his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1980s when he acquired his first convenience store in Quebec. He then went on to acquire several more stores and eventually formed a company with two partners in 1985, which later became Alimentation Couche-Tard. The company grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions and now has over 16,000 stores across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Bouchard is known for his focus on customer service and innovation, which has helped to drive the success of Alimentation Couche-Tard. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his achievements, including being inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2015.
In addition to his role at Alimentation Couche-Tard, Bouchard is also involved in various philanthropic endeavors. He has donated millions of dollars to support healthcare and education initiatives in Quebec, and he is also a member of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honors. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $7.8 billion USD, making him one of the richest people in Canada.
Charles Bronfman is a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and member of the prominent Bronfman family. He was born on June 27, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is the son of Samuel Bronfman, who founded the Seagram Company, a major player in the global liquor industry.
Bronfman began his career at Seagram in the 1950s and worked his way up through the company’s ranks. He eventually became co-chairman of the board and co-CEO of Seagram, alongside his brother Edgar Bronfman Sr.
In addition to his business career, Bronfman is also known for his philanthropic work. He is a co-founder of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, a charitable organization that supports a variety of causes in Canada, Israel, and the United States. He has also been involved in various other philanthropic initiatives, including supporting arts and culture, education, and environmental conservation.
Bronfman has received numerous awards and honors for his achievements, including being named a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honors, in 1997. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $2.7 billion USD.
André Desmarais is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was born on October 26, 1956, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He is the co-chairman of Power Corporation of Canada, a major diversified international management and holding company based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Desmarais joined Power Corporation in 1983 and has held various leadership positions within the company. In addition to his role as co-chairman, he is also the chairman and CEO of Power Financial Corporation, a subsidiary of Power Corporation. He has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of Power Corporation’s various business interests, which include financial services, asset management, and media.
Desmarais is also known for his philanthropic work. He is a member of the board of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and has supported a variety of other charitable organizations focused on education, healthcare, and the arts. He is also a member of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honors.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Desmarais’ net worth to be $1.3 billion USD. He is considered one of the wealthiest people in Canada and a prominent figure in the business and financial community.
Desmarais Jr. is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist, and the son of Paul Desmarais Sr., the founder of Power Corporation of Canada. He joined Power Corporation in 1981 and has held various leadership positions within the company, including serving as co-CEO and co-chairman with his brother, André Desmarais.
In addition to his work at Power Corporation, Desmarais Jr. is involved in various other business ventures and is a member of the board of directors for a number of companies. He is also known for his philanthropic work and has supported a variety of charitable organizations focused on education, healthcare, and the arts.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Desmarais Jr.’s net worth at $5.5 billion USD, making him one of the wealthiest people in Canada.
Stephen Jarislowsky is a Canadian businessman, investor, and philanthropist who was born on September 26, 1925, in Berlin, Germany. He is the founder of Jarislowsky Fraser, a leading investment management firm in Canada.
Jarislowsky immigrated to Canada in 1941 and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in Montreal. He founded Jarislowsky Fraser in 1955 and served as the company’s chairman and CEO until 2012. Under his leadership, the firm grew to become one of Canada’s largest and most successful investment management firms.
In addition to his work at Jarislowsky Fraser, Jarislowsky is known for his philanthropic work. He has donated millions of dollars to various charitable organizations focused on healthcare, education, and the arts. He is also a member of the Order of Canada, one of Canada’s highest honors.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Jarislowsky’s net worth at $1.28 billion USD, making him one of the wealthiest people in Canada. He is considered a prominent figure in the business and financial community in Canada and has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the industry.
Aldo Bensadoun is a Canadian businessman and the founder of the Aldo Group, a global footwear and accessories company based in Montreal, Quebec. He was born on September 27, 1939, in French Algeria and moved to Canada with his family in 1952.
Bensadoun started his career in the footwear industry in the early 1960s, working in his father’s shoe store in Montreal. He founded the Aldo Group in 1972, and the company has since grown to become one of the world’s leading retailers of fashion footwear and accessories.
Under Bensadoun’s leadership, the Aldo Group has expanded into more than 100 countries, with over 3,000 stores worldwide. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and it has received numerous awards and recognitions for its environmental and social initiatives.
In addition to his business career, Bensadoun is also known for his philanthropy. He has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including education, healthcare, and the arts.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Bensadoun’s net worth at $1.9 billion USD. He is considered one of the most successful and influential businessmen in Canada and has received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the industry and the community.
Laurent Beaudoin is a Canadian businessman who was born on February 13, 1938, in Laurier-Station, Quebec. He is the former CEO and Chairman of Bombardier Inc., a multinational aerospace and transportation company based in Montreal, Quebec.
Beaudoin joined Bombardier in 1963 and helped the company to grow from a small snowmobile manufacturer into a major player in the aerospace and transportation industries. Under his leadership, Bombardier expanded its product lines to include trains, commercial and business aircraft, and a range of other transportation solutions.
Beaudoin served as CEO of Bombardier from 1979 to 2003 and as Chairman of the Board from 1988 to 2015. During his tenure, the company grew to become one of the largest employers in Canada, with operations in over 30 countries around the world.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Beaudoin’s net worth at $1.1 billion USD. He is considered a prominent figure in the Canadian business community and has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the industry.
Gilles Massé is a Canadian businessman who serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Intact Financial Corporation. Intact Financial is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in Canada, offering a range of insurance products to individuals and businesses across the country.
As CFO of Intact Financial, Massé is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial operations, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, investor relations, and risk management. He joined Intact Financial in 2008 and has held various leadership roles within the company since then.
Before joining Intact Financial, Massé worked in the financial services industry, including at National Bank Financial and CIBC World Markets. He has over 20 years of experience in the finance and investment sectors and is recognized as a leading expert in his field.
Massé holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Université Laval and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. He is also a board member of the Insurance Bureau of Canada and has received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to the industry and the community.
Jean Coutu is a Canadian entrepreneur and businessman who founded the Jean Coutu Group, a chain of pharmacies and drugstores that became one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in Canada.
Born in Quebec in 1927, Coutu started his career as a pharmacist, opening his first pharmacy in 1969 in Montreal. He later expanded his business and grew the Jean Coutu Group into a successful chain of pharmacies that provided a range of health and wellness products and services to customers across Quebec and other parts of Canada.
Under Coutu’s leadership, the Jean Coutu Group became known for its focus on customer service and innovation, introducing new technologies and services to improve the customer experience. The company went public in 1986 and continued to grow through a series of mergers and acquisitions over the years.
Coutu is also known for his philanthropy and community involvement, supporting various causes and initiatives through the Jean Coutu Foundation and other organizations.
Pierre Karl Péladeau is a Canadian businessman and politician who was born on April 16, 1961, in Montreal, Quebec. He is the controlling shareholder of Quebecor Inc., a telecommunications and media company that operates in Canada and internationally.
Péladeau became the CEO of Quebecor in 1999 and led the company through a period of significant growth and diversification. Quebecor now owns several media properties, including TVA, a French-language television network in Quebec, and the Sun Media newspaper chain.
In addition to his business interests, Péladeau has been involved in politics. He was elected to the Quebec National Assembly in 2014 as a member of the Parti Québécois and served as leader of the party from May 2015 to May 2016.
As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, Forbes estimated Péladeau’s net worth at $1.2 billion USD. He is considered a prominent figure in the Canadian media industry and has been recognized for his contributions to the Quebec economy.
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