Charles Bronfman (born June 27, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a prominent Canadian-American-Israeli billionaire businessman and philanthropist from the influential Bronfman family. He is an heir to the Seagram fortune and a co-founder of The Seagram Company Ltd., the liquor empire built by his father, Russian-Jewish immigrant Samuel Bronfman, who founded Distillers Corporation-Seagrams in 1928. The second son of Samuel and Saidye Rosner Bronfman, Charles joined the family business in 1951 after attending McGill University (though he did not graduate). He rose through the ranks, serving as Executive Vice President and Director, then President from 1971 to 1989, and later as Co-Chairman until the company's merger with Vivendi in 2000. During his tenure, Seagram expanded internationally, acquiring stakes in oil (DuPont) and entertainment (MCA Inc./Universal Studios in 1995), though the company faced challenges in the late 1990s leading to its sale. Bronfman also owned and served as President of the Montreal Expos baseball team from 1968 to 1990, contributing to its establishment as a Major League Baseball franchise before selling it amid financial difficulties.

Beyond business, Bronfman has dedicated much of his post-business life to philanthropy, focusing extensively on Jewish causes, community building, education, arts, and community development. He is a major pro-Israel donor. In 1999, he co-founded Birthright Israel with Michael Steinhardt, providing free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults to strengthen cultural ties; he remains Honorary Chairman. He founded The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies (ACBP) in 2006 (named after his late wife Andrea), a major vehicle for his support of Jewish and other causes, which has donated hundreds of millions to initiatives like Andrus on Hudson, the 21/64 project for family philanthropy, and organizations like Aish HaTorah. His giving totals over $1 billion, earning him recognition including the Order of Canada (1992), Companion of the Order of Canada, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011 under Obama). Bronfman authored books on philanthropy and leadership, such as 'The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan' (2009), and co-founded the Charles Bronfman Prize, awarded annually to individuals advancing Jewish life.

With an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion as of 2023 (Forbes), ranking him 1,217th wealthiest globally, Bronfman has been married multiple times, including to Barbara Baerwald (1957-1973), Andrea Morrison (1973-1982), and later Rita May (divorced in 2000 after 18 years). He has two children, Stephen and Ellen, who continue in business and philanthropy. While the Bronfman family faced early allegations of bootlegging ties during Prohibition (unproven for Charles), he has no personal legal controversies but has been criticized for Birthright's role in promoting pro-Israel advocacy amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He resides primarily in the United States but maintains strong Canadian and Israeli ties, reflecting a commitment to Jewish identity and Canadian-Israeli relations.