Leonardo Farkas
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Julio Farkas Klein (born March 20, 1967) is a Chilean
businessman and philanthropist
.
Farkas studied commercial engineering at the University of Santiago, Chile
. In the 1980s, he emigrated to the United States
and made a living working in show business as a piano player while traveling throughout the country. He also worked in several Caribbean cruising companies until the death of his father. Farkas then returned to Chile
to manage the family business. He has stakes in several industries, the mining
sector being the most important.
. Initially, he declined to comment on the issue. However, on December 5, he announced he would not be running.
, and in 2008, donated 1 billion pesos
(US$1.5 million approx.), becoming the first individual to donate such amount of money to this campaign (matched hours later by José Luis Nazar during the same event).
Farkas has been very critical of the Chilean Upper class
, stating that “they’re usually very stingy and elitist” and don’t do enough to mitigate Chile’s social problems. He has also said that if elected president “all Chileans would have their own house”. This rhetoric of appealing to the masses of poor people has gained him substantial support among that social group and some harsh criticism from his business peers and local politicians, often labeling him as a “populist
” in search of some spotlight.
During the rescue operation in Copiapó, Chile of the trapped miners
, Farkas donated a $10,000 check for each of the 33 rescued men. Farkas reportedly gave the checks in the miners' names to each of the families and set up a separate fund to collect donations, The Associated Press reported.
On July 1st, Farkas was given an award by the Viña del Mar
Mayor for his contributions to the city.
was brought against Farkas by his Australian partners, Admiralty Resources. The lawsuit argues that he has inappropriately used the company’s money for personal charity acts.
Farkas has responded to the accusations by saying that his associates were well aware of his charity donations, and never presented any reservations against them.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Early years
Farkas's parents were Jews of Hungarian descent who emigrated from Transylvania to South America in 1939.Farkas studied commercial engineering at the University of Santiago, Chile
University of Santiago, Chile
The University of Santiago of Chile is one of the oldest public universities in Chile.The institution was born as Escuela de Artes y Oficios in 1849, under the government of Manuel Bulnes...
. In the 1980s, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and made a living working in show business as a piano player while traveling throughout the country. He also worked in several Caribbean cruising companies until the death of his father. Farkas then returned to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
to manage the family business. He has stakes in several industries, the mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
sector being the most important.
Consideration of presidential candidacy
In October 2008 Farkas announced that he was considering being an independent candidate for the presidential election of 2009Chilean presidential election, 2009
The Chilean presidential election of 2009 was held on Sunday December 13, 2009. Based on the two-round system, since none of the candidates secured the absolute majority needed to take the presidency outright, a run-off between the two most-voted candidates —center-right Sebastián Piñera and...
. Initially, he declined to comment on the issue. However, on December 5, he announced he would not be running.
Philanthropy
Farkas is widely known in Chile by his appearances in the telethon, a fundraising campaign for handicapped children. Farkas donated hundreds of millions of pesosChilean peso
The peso is the currency of Chile. The current peso has circulated since 1975, with a previous version circulating between 1817 and 1960. The symbol used locally for it is $. The ISO 4217 code for the present peso is CLP. It is subdivided into 100 centavos, although no centavo denominated coins...
, and in 2008, donated 1 billion pesos
Chilean peso
The peso is the currency of Chile. The current peso has circulated since 1975, with a previous version circulating between 1817 and 1960. The symbol used locally for it is $. The ISO 4217 code for the present peso is CLP. It is subdivided into 100 centavos, although no centavo denominated coins...
(US$1.5 million approx.), becoming the first individual to donate such amount of money to this campaign (matched hours later by José Luis Nazar during the same event).
Farkas has been very critical of the Chilean Upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
, stating that “they’re usually very stingy and elitist” and don’t do enough to mitigate Chile’s social problems. He has also said that if elected president “all Chileans would have their own house”. This rhetoric of appealing to the masses of poor people has gained him substantial support among that social group and some harsh criticism from his business peers and local politicians, often labeling him as a “populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
” in search of some spotlight.
During the rescue operation in Copiapó, Chile of the trapped miners
2010 Copiapó mining accident
The 2010 Copiapó mining accident, also known as the "Chilean mining accident", began in the afternoon of Thursday, 5 August 2010 as a significant cave-in at the troubled 121-year-old San José copper–gold mine. The mine is located deep in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and harshest...
, Farkas donated a $10,000 check for each of the 33 rescued men. Farkas reportedly gave the checks in the miners' names to each of the families and set up a separate fund to collect donations, The Associated Press reported.
On July 1st, Farkas was given an award by the Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
Mayor for his contributions to the city.
Allegations of financial misuse
In 2010 a lawsuitLawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
was brought against Farkas by his Australian partners, Admiralty Resources. The lawsuit argues that he has inappropriately used the company’s money for personal charity acts.
Farkas has responded to the accusations by saying that his associates were well aware of his charity donations, and never presented any reservations against them.