Edmond Jacob Safra (1932-1999) was a Lebanese-Brazilian billionaire banker and philanthropist of Syrian Jewish descent, born in Beirut, Lebanon, into a prominent banking family originally from Aleppo, Syria. He began his career in banking at a young age, continuing the family tradition after moving to Brazil in the 1950s, where he established successful financial institutions. Safra expanded internationally, founding the Trade Development Bank in Switzerland and acquiring Republic National Bank of New York to form Republic New York Corporation, which he founded as a major entity, building a global network of banks with offices in major financial centers, employing thousands, and amassing significant wealth.

Safra was known for his philanthropy, supporting Jewish causes and institutions such as the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in New York City, the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, and the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation. He was married to Lily Watkins (also known as Lily Monteverde) from 1976 until his death. On December 3, 1999, Safra died in a suspicious fire at his Monaco penthouse, which attracted intense media scrutiny; it was later judicially determined to be arson, with his nurse, Ted Maher, convicted of setting the fire, though Maher maintained his innocence and was released after serving time.

Safra's life and death have been subjects of biographies, including 'A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra Became the World’s Most Powerful Banker' by Daniel Gross, commissioned by his widow, highlighting his role in global finance and enigmatic persona.