2024-08-17 14:12:02
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Television executive and host Silvio Santos has died after a decades-long career in which he was known for his bright smile and the phrase “Who wants to Money? He is 93 years old.
Santos owns the SBT television network and produces several variety shows. One of the most famous shows bears his name and has been on the air since 1963, in recent years on Sunday nights. It is one of the longest-running television programs in Brazil.
Santos has also brought other successful shows to his network, such as “The Millionaire Show” and the reality show “La Casa de los Artistas.”
His cause of death was not reported. He has reportedly been hospitalized in recent weeks.
“Today, the sky rejoices with the arrival of our beloved Silvio Santos. He lived 93 years and brought happiness and love to all Brazilians,” SBT Network said in a statement on social media on Saturday. … That bright smile and familiar voice will always be remembered with great gratitude.
His death will change the weekend for millions of Brazilian families who tuned into “The Silvio Santos Project” and heard the opening song: “Here comes Silvio Santos!” he folded during the performance money planes and launching them above the audience, with some shows lasting up to 10 hours. He was constantly interacting with the audience, and with a custom-made microphone clipped to his shirt collar, he could wave his hands freely in the air.
Even after turning 90, she continued to dye her hair brown, which contributed to her eternity. Her carefully groomed hair became another of her trademarks.
In 2013, Forbes magazine compared him to Oprah Winfrey, film directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Santos is best known by his stage name, although he was born Mr. Abravanel in the bustling Lapa neighborhood of central Rio de Janeiro. As a teenager, he sold pens and plastic covers for voter ID cards and performed magic tricks with coins and playing cards.
His sales tactics were so appealing that he was invited to audition as a radio host. He moved from station to station in Rio de Janeiro and, after a stint in the army, found success in the media world in São Paulo. His first television job came in the early 1960s on the Globo network, then called TV Paulista, where the “Silvio Santos Program” was later born.
About a decade later, he landed his first television franchise and began building an empire. He founded SBT, which in 2021 became the third most watched network among the South American country’s 214 million residents.
Not all of his ideas were well received. He has been repeatedly accused of misogyny for commenting on women’s appearance or causing discomfort. On at least two occasions, he refused to hug female stars on the show, saying he didn’t want to “get high.” In 2016, he asked a 5-year-old girl if she preferred sex, drugs or money. But as the owner of his own network, he was never punished.
Santos also owns cosmetics, restaurants and even banking businesses. “Forbes” estimates that by 2020, the net worth of Santos’ 30 companies will reach 2 billion reais (about 380 million U.S. dollars).
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