Sammy Ofer
Encyclopedia
Sammy Ofer KBE was a businessman
, shipping
tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in Israel
, although most of his time he spent abroad, and managed his businesses from Monte Carlo
in Monaco
. A member of the Ofer family
, the annual Forbes
magazine's list of The World's Billionaires estimated in 2011 his fortune, together with his brother Yuli
's, to be $10.3 billion, ranked him in 2011 as the 79th in wealthiest people in the world, and the wealthiest man in Israel.
, in 1924 Ofer's family immigrated to Mandate Palestine. The family lived in Haifa
. After Ofer finished elementary school, he started working as delivery boy for a shipping company.
With the start of the World War II
he enlisted in the Royal Navy
and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
served in the Israeli Sea Corps
. After finishing his army service, he became a shipping agent with the Eastern Conglomerate, and by 1950 had bought his first ship. Since then, he has expanded in the shipping business.
Ofer's assets, which are partly in his exclusive ownership and partly owned together with his brother Yuli, consist of one of the largest private shipping companies in the world, with total value of almost £2 billion. This includes the companies ZIM
, Royal Caribbean International
, Israel Corporation
, Israel Chemicals
, Oil Refineries Ltd
, Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot
, and Tower Semiconductor.
On 3 June 2011, Ofer died in his house in Tel Aviv
at the age of 89. Alon Uziel, a Tel Aviv resident living across of the cemetery where Ofer was buried, was accused of dancing in his balcony during the wake, to protest against the state giving national property to the Ofer Brothers Group unlawfully http://www.jewpi.com/blogger-who-danced-at-the-funeral-of-sammy-ofer-potter http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/news-in-brief-1.315064.
On 10 November 2008 he was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in recognition of his involvement with maritime heritage in the United Kingdom.
at Greenwich
, as part of a £35 million programme of expansion. Ofer donated £3.3 million to help complete the restoration of the Cutty Sark
by 2010.
In 2007, Sammy Ofer donated $25 million to the Rambam Health Care Campus
, in Haifa, Israel. This contribution was earmarked for two main purposes: $17,000,000 for the 2000-bed fortified underground hospital and $7,000,000 to renovate the existing departments of Surgery, Urology, and ENT.
, honored Sammy Ofer with the Rambam Award 2010.
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, although most of his time he spent abroad, and managed his businesses from Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. A member of the Ofer family
Ofer Brothers Group
The Ofer Group is an Israeli family shipping business owned by the Ofer family. The Ofer family owns one of the largest private shipping companies in the world....
, the annual Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's list of The World's Billionaires estimated in 2011 his fortune, together with his brother Yuli
Yuli Ofer
Judah "Yuli" Ofer was an Israeli businessman who specialized in the field of real estate and industry, and one of the wealthiest people in Israel...
's, to be $10.3 billion, ranked him in 2011 as the 79th in wealthiest people in the world, and the wealthiest man in Israel.
Life and career
Born in 1922 in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, in 1924 Ofer's family immigrated to Mandate Palestine. The family lived in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. After Ofer finished elementary school, he started working as delivery boy for a shipping company.
With the start of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he enlisted in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
served in the Israeli Sea Corps
Israeli Sea Corps
The Israeli Navy is the naval arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in the Mediterranean Sea theater as well as the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea theater. The current commander in chief of the Israeli Navy is Aluf Ram Rothberg.-History:...
. After finishing his army service, he became a shipping agent with the Eastern Conglomerate, and by 1950 had bought his first ship. Since then, he has expanded in the shipping business.
Ofer's assets, which are partly in his exclusive ownership and partly owned together with his brother Yuli, consist of one of the largest private shipping companies in the world, with total value of almost £2 billion. This includes the companies ZIM
Zim Integrated Shipping Services
Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. , formerly ZIM Israel Navigation Company Ltd. and Zim American Israeli Shipping Inc., is the biggest cargo shipping company in Israel, and 10th largest in the world...
, Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. With 42 ships in service under 5 different brands and one more under construction, it controls a 25.6% share of the world cruise market...
, Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation
Israel Corporation is Israel’s largest holding company. Fifty of its manufacturing activities and 70% of its consolidated revenues derive from global operations. Its core holdings are fertilizers and specialty chemicals, energy, shipping and transportation. Israel Corp is a constituent of the...
, Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals
Israel Chemicals Ltd. , also known as ICL, is a multi-national Israeli manufacturing concern that develops, produces and markets fertilizers, metals and other special-purpose chemical products.-History:...
, Oil Refineries Ltd
Oil Refineries Ltd
Oil Refineries Ltd. , located in Haifa Bay, is Israel's largest Oil refinery. Using its state-of-the-art industrial facilities, ORL is capable of refining approximately 9.8 million tons of crude oil per year providing a variety of products used in industrial operation, transportation, private...
, Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot
Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot
Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot is a bank in Israel. The fourth largest in the country, it has around 90 branches. It was formed by a merger of Bank Mizrahi HaMeuhad and Bank Tfahot in 2004....
, and Tower Semiconductor.
On 3 June 2011, Ofer died in his house in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
at the age of 89. Alon Uziel, a Tel Aviv resident living across of the cemetery where Ofer was buried, was accused of dancing in his balcony during the wake, to protest against the state giving national property to the Ofer Brothers Group unlawfully http://www.jewpi.com/blogger-who-danced-at-the-funeral-of-sammy-ofer-potter http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/news-in-brief-1.315064.
Personal life
Ofer has two sons, Eyal and Idan, who manage different branches of the family businesses.On 10 November 2008 he was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE) in recognition of his involvement with maritime heritage in the United Kingdom.
Philanthropy
On 27 March 2008, Ofer donated £20 million to London's National Maritime MuseumNational Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, as part of a £35 million programme of expansion. Ofer donated £3.3 million to help complete the restoration of the Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954...
by 2010.
In 2007, Sammy Ofer donated $25 million to the Rambam Health Care Campus
Rambam Hospital
Rambam Health Care Campus , or Rambam Hospital, is a hospital in the Bat Galim neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. The largest medical center in northern Israel and fifth largest in Israel, it is named for the 12th century physician-philosopher Rabbi Moshe Ben-Maimon , known as the...
, in Haifa, Israel. This contribution was earmarked for two main purposes: $17,000,000 for the 2000-bed fortified underground hospital and $7,000,000 to renovate the existing departments of Surgery, Urology, and ENT.
Awards
On 10 June 2010, at the Rambam Summit, Prof. Rafi Beyar, Director of Rambam Health Care CampusRambam Hospital
Rambam Health Care Campus , or Rambam Hospital, is a hospital in the Bat Galim neighborhood of Haifa, Israel. The largest medical center in northern Israel and fifth largest in Israel, it is named for the 12th century physician-philosopher Rabbi Moshe Ben-Maimon , known as the...
, honored Sammy Ofer with the Rambam Award 2010.