Rami Makhlouf (born July 10, 1969) is a prominent Syrian businessman and maternal cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. As the eldest son of Mohamed Makhlouf and nephew of Anisa Makhlouf (mother of Bashar al-Assad), he leveraged his family connections to amass significant wealth and influence in Syria's economy. Early in his career during the 1980s, he engaged in smuggling foodstuffs and electrical goods amid commercial embargoes on Syria. By the early 2000s, Makhlouf had established himself as one of Syria's most powerful figures, controlling key sectors through entities like Cham Holding, which dominated telecommunications, real estate, and other industries. No foreign company could operate in Syria without his consent or partnership, making him a central pillar of the Assad regime's financial network and a key supporter during the Syrian civil war starting in 2011. He was regarded as one of Syria's richest men, with estimates of his wealth in the billions, derived from monopolistic control over imports, banking, and media. However, his relationship with Bashar al-Assad soured publicly in 2011 amid accusations of corruption and greed, leading to a power struggle and pressure to relinquish assets to the government. Sanctions from the EU, US, and others targeted him for his role in regime repression and economic exploitation. Following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Makhlouf's status remains precarious, with reports of opposition from the new Syrian government and potential asset seizures. He holds dual Syrian-Cypriot nationality. His career exemplifies the intertwining of family ties, crony capitalism, and political power in Syria, drawing widespread criticism for enabling the regime's survival through economic dominance and alleged illicit activities.