Edgar de Picciotto (1929-2016) was a Swiss financier and philanthropist of Egyptian-Jewish origin, holding dual Lebanese-Swiss nationality. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, he initially trained as a mechanical engineer with plans to enter the textiles business but shifted to finance after moving to Switzerland in 1954. There, under the guidance of his father-in-law, a Geneva banker, he entered the banking industry and became renowned as a pioneer in private banking. He founded the EFG Private Bank Group and was one of the earliest bankers to recognize the potential of hedge funds in the 1970s, investing successfully on the Swiss financial market and building a substantial fortune, listed as a billionaire by Forbes, through innovative approaches to alternative investments. Associated with institutions like Union Bancaire Privée, his career exemplified early adoption of hedge funds and other alternative assets, earning him recognition as a trailblazer in the sector. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 86.