:Silvio Santos

Abravanel was the son of Sephardic Jewish immigrants born in the Ottoman Empire. His father, Alberto Abravanel, was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1897 whilst his mother, Rebecca Caro, was born in Smyrna, Turkey in 1905. Both died in Rio de Janeiro (in 1975 and 1988 respectively) and are buried side by side in the Caju Jewish Cemetery, Rio de Janeiro.{{Cite news |date=8 November 1989 |title=Behind the Headlines: Jewish Tv Celebrity is a Favorite in Brazilian Elections Next Week |url=https://www.jta.org/1989/11/08/archive/behind-the-headlines-jewish-tv-celebrity-is-a-favorite-in-brazilian-elections-next-week |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807061556/https://www.jta.org/1989/11/08/archive/behind-the-headlines-jewish-tv-celebrity-is-a-favorite-in-brazilian-elections-next-week |archive-date=7 August 2015 |access-date=6 February 2019 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}} He was a descendant of Isaac Abrabanel, a 15th-century Portuguese Jewish statesman. Abravanel attended primary school at the Escola Municipal Celestino da Silva, and graduated from Colégio Estadual Amaro Cavalcanti.{{Cite book |last=Silva |first=Arlindo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOsuAAAAYAAJ |title=A fantástica história de Silvio Santos |date=2002 |publisher=Editora do Brasil |isbn=978-85-10-03063-2 |language=pt-BR |access-date=18 August 2024 |archive-date=20 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071606/https://books.google.com/books?id=FOsuAAAAYAAJ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Dimenstein |first=Gilberto |date=21 May 2000 |title=O judeu Silvio Santos e o câncer |trans-title=The Jewish Silvio Santos and cancer |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/cotidian/ff2105200022.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031009233841/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/dimenstein/gilberto/gd220500.htm |archive-date=9 October 2003 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}}

Abravanel worked on the streets of Rio de Janeiro as a street vendor at the age of 14, selling plastic cases for storing voter registration cards.{{Cite news |date=30 August 2001 |title=Conheça a carreira do empresário Senor Abravanel, o Sílvio Santos |trans-title=Learn about the career of businessman Senor Abravanel, Sílvio Santos |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u36022.shtml |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212233238/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u36022.shtml |archive-date=12 December 2007 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite news |date=26 December 2014 |title=De camelô a bilionário, conheça trajetória de Silvio Santos |trans-title=From street vendor to billionaire, learn about Silvio Santos' career |url=https://www.terra.com.br/economia/meu-negocio/de-camelo-a-bilionario-conheca-trajetoria-de-silvio-santos,f79e6b9dcf37a410VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219182044/https://www.terra.com.br/economia/meu-negocio/de-camelo-a-bilionario-conheca-trajetoria-de-silvio-santos,f79e6b9dcf37a410VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html |archive-date=19 December 2023 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Terra |language=pt-BR}} Impressed by his voice, he was invited to try out for a position at Radio Guanabara, but quit after a month because he made more money as a street vendor. At the age of 18, he began service in the Brazilian Army, training as part of the Paratroopers Brigade.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ckg-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |title=Te Contei? Grandes Ídolos Edição Luxo (Silvio Santos) Ed.01 |date=18 September 2017 |publisher=On Line Editora |language=en |access-date=2 January 2019 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115115419/https://books.google.com/books?id=ckg-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |url-status=live }}

As he had time off on Sundays, Abravanel revisited his pursuit of a broadcasting career by joining Rádio Mauá. He later moved to Rádio Tupi, and added another position at Rádio Continental in Niterói—to which he travelled by ferry from Rio. Seeing an opportunity in adding entertainment for passengers, he began a business venture of bringing a PA system aboard the ferry to play music and commercials. Abravanel quit Rádio Continental to focus on the ferry venture instead, which proved successful. After the ferry company added bars to the ships, Santos spearheaded raffle promotions where passengers could receive a ticket by buying a beverage.

Abravanel adopted the professional name Silvio Santos; his mother Caro had taken to calling him "Silvio" instead of "Senor" as it was easier to pronounce, while his surname stemmed from having once said "que todos os Santos me ajudem" ("may all the Saints help me") before going on the air.

File:Silvio Santos e Manuel de Nóbrega.jpg

Santos would later move to São Paulo, taking a job at Rádio Nacional de São Paulo, and beginning other ventures such as a magazine, and a circus caravan—where he would continue a focus on raffles as an aspect of his businesses. One of the advertisers Santos would work with at the station was Manuel de Nóbrega, entertainer and co-owner of Baú da Felicidade—a company that offered Christmas toy chests that customers could pay for in installments throughout the year. However, after the company faced financial issues (including Manuel's German partner taking the money for himself, the company being unable to deliver on its orders, and its "headquarters" being a largely empty basement), Manuel transferred the business to Santos—who would go on to establish a partnership with the Estrela toy company, and expand the program by allowing customers to redeem for other items besides toys.

In 1960, TV Paulista signed Santos to host a television program—Vamos Brincar de Forca—which would incorporate variety entertainment and raffles, and be used to promote Baú da Felicidade. He would also go on to host other programs for TV Tupi. In 1963, he moved to a Sunday afternoon variety show on TV Paulista, Programa Silvio Santos.{{Cite news |last=Feltrin |first=Ricardo |date=28 February 2001 |title=Silvio Santos faz auditoria em empresas e deve vender a Vimave |trans-title=Silvio Santos audits companies and is expected to sell Vimave |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/colunas/ooops/ult340u154.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922220508/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/colunas/ooops/ult340u154.shtml |archive-date=22 September 2020 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}} In 1966, TV Paulista became part of the new Rede Globo, which signed Santos to a five-year deal. In 1971, Santos began to present the Troféu Imprensa, an awards presentation for Brazilian television. He opened a studio, Estudios Silvio Santos Cinema e Televisao, at the former facilities of TV Excelsior in 1974.

In the early-1970s, Rede Globo began to shift its programming strategy in order to help improve viewership, with a stronger focus on telenovelas, news, sports, and films. As his variety programming conflicted with these new policies, Santos' relationship with Globo executives began to falter, and he almost left the network in 1972. Santos sought to establish his own channel, but his contract with Globo prevented him from holding ownership stakes in a competitor. In the interim, Santos had a partner—Dermerval Gonçalves—covertly offer to acquire a stake in TV Record on his behalf to keep his programming on the air in São Paulo.{{Cite news |last=Stycer |first=Mauricio |date=14 December 2020 |title=Silvio e Boni já 'se estranharam' várias vezes em 50 anos de TV |trans-title=Silvio and Boni have weirded each other several times in 50 years of TV |url=https://www.uol.com.br/splash/colunas/mauricio-stycer/2020/12/14/silvio-e-boni-ja-se-estranharam-varias-vezes-em-50-anos-de-tv.htm?cmpid=copiaecola |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214203123/https://www.uol.com.br/splash/colunas/mauricio-stycer/2020/12/14/silvio-e-boni-ja-se-estranharam-varias-vezes-em-50-anos-de-tv.htm |archive-date=14 December 2020 |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=UOL |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |date=16 November 2010 |title=Como Silvio Santos virou patrão |url=https://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br/armazem-literario/como-silvio-santos-virou-patrao/ |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Observatório da Imprensa |language=pt-br |archive-date=4 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704175344/https://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br/armazem-literario/como-silvio-santos-virou-patrao/ |url-status=live }}

File:BR RJANRIO PH 0 FOT 41273 015.tif|280x280px]]

When the Brazilian government began taking applications for a new VHF station in Rio on channel 11, Santos would bid for its concession with the support of Manuel de Nóbrega and other television personalities (including Carlos Eduardo Imperial, who had previously been critical of Santos's programming). Santos would be awarded the concession for channel 11 in December 1975, becoming the first Brazilian television artist to own a broadcast station.

To get the station on air as quickly as possible, Santos purchased transmission equipment formerly used by TV Continental (which had closed in 1971) at auction; initially dismissed as junk by the press, it was discovered that all of the equipment was in working order, and capable of broadcasting in colour (with its use by Continental pre-dating the official introduction of PAL-M colour television in 1972). The new station—known as TVS—first broadcast on 14 May 1976.{{Cite web |last=de Castro |first=Thell |date=8 May 2016 |title=Há 40 anos, Silvio Santos colocava no ar sua primeira emissora de televisão |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/ha-40-anos-silvio-santos-colocava-no-ar-sua-primeira-emissora-de-televisao-11249 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR |archive-date=17 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317185303/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/ha-40-anos-silvio-santos-colocava-no-ar-sua-primeira-emissora-de-televisao-11249 |url-status=live }} Programa Silvio Santos would subsequently move from Globo to TVS in August; it would also be simulcast by TV Record (with Santos having completed his purchase of a 50% stake), and Rede Tupi.

In July 1980, Rede Tupi was closed by the military dictatorship, and the federal government began to take bids on its stations' concessions. Santos was among several parties placing bids, and commissioned a survey from the IBOPE that displayed public support for him as an owner. In 1981, the stations would be awarded to Grupo Silvio Santos and Grupo Bloch, with Santos awarded Tupi's former signals in São Paulo and Porto Alegre. His victory in São Paulo was criticized by a local broadcasters' union, who lamented TVS's programming as "canned goods", and felt that Santos only wanted to sell more Baú da Felicidade cards.{{Cite news |date=20 March 1981 |title=Governo concede TVs aos grupos Bloch e Silvio Santos |url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/030015_10/29051 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=Jornal do Brasil |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034536/https://memoria.bn.gov.br/docreader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_10&pagfis=29051 |url-status=live }}

The São Paulo station signed on 19 August 1981, and the Porto Alegre station soon afterward; the two stations and TVS would form a new network known as the Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (SBT). The new network's programming would aim to target a lower middle class and working class audience.{{Cite journal |last1=Straubhaar |first1=Joseph D. |last2=Sinta |first2=Vinicio |last3=Spence |first3=Jeremiah |last4=de Macedo Higgins Joyce |first4=Vanessa |date=2016 |title=Changing Class Formations and Changing Television Viewing: The New Middle Class, Television and Pay Television in Brazil and Mexico, 2003-2013 |url=https://www.cairn.info/revue-les-enjeux-de-l-information-et-de-la-communication-2016-2-page-207.htm |journal=Les Enjeux de l'Information et de la Communication |language=fr |volume=17/2 |issue=2 |pages=207–223 |doi=10.3917/enic.021.0207 |issn=1778-4239|url-access=subscription }} Meanwhile, Bloch's stations became the core of another new network, Rede Manchete.{{Cite web |last=Stycer |first=Mauricio |date=27 August 2018 |title=Silvio sobre Figueiredo: 'Se não fosse ele, eu tava vendendo caneta na Sé' |url=https://tvefamosos.uol.com.br/blog/mauriciostycer/2017/08/27/silvio-sobre-figueiredo-se-nao-fosse-ele-eu-tava-vendendo-caneta-na-se/ |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=UOL TV e Famosos |language=pt-br |archive-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130140828/https://tvefamosos.uol.com.br/blog/mauriciostycer/2017/08/27/silvio-sobre-figueiredo-se-nao-fosse-ele-eu-tava-vendendo-caneta-na-se/ |url-status=live }} Santos had also won the concession for a station in Rio; this station would be transferred to Paulinho Machado de Carvalho, and operate as an affiliate of TV Record. By the late-1980s, SBT became more established, acquiring popular film rights,{{Cite web |last=de Castro |first=Thell |date=23 June 2019 |title=Em guerra com a Globo, Silvio Santos mandou o público ver Rambo na rival em 1988 |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-guerra-com-globo-silvio-santos-mandou-o-publico-ver-rambo-na-rival-em-1988-27691 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223174623/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-guerra-com-globo-silvio-santos-mandou-o-publico-ver-rambo-na-rival-em-1988-27691 |url-status=live }} and signing names such as Hebe Camargo, Carlos Alberto de Nóbrega, and Jô Soares.{{Cite web |last=de Castro |first=Thell |date=8 August 2014 |title=Em 1987, Silvio Santos interrompeu telejornal para anunciar Jô Soares |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-1987-silvio-santos-interrompeu-telejornal-para-anunciar-jo-soares-4366 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034440/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-1987-silvio-santos-interrompeu-telejornal-para-anunciar-jo-soares-4366 |url-status=live }}

In January 1988, Santos traveled to Boston to undergo medical treatment for vocal cord issues that had caused him to lose his voice, and a tumor on one of his eyelids, which was found to be benign. As his spouse Maria Aparecida Vieira had died from cancer in 1977, the 57 year-old Santos had introspections between himself and his colleagues regarding his health and future, leading him to begin the process of naming a successor. During the Rio Carnival the following month, Santos personally intervened with Globo's president Roberto Marinho to keep Gugu Liberato—an SBT personality who had been offered a Sunday variety show on Globo—from defecting to the competitor. Santos would give Gugu a larger salary, and prominent hosting roles in SBT's Sunday lineup (which would later include his own variety show, Domingo Legal).{{Cite web |last=CASTRO |first=THELL DE |date=2021-07-11 |title=Em 1988, Silvio Santos viveu seus dias de Renato Villar: 'Chorei feito criança' |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-1988-silvio-santos-viveu-seus-dias-de-renato-villar-chorei-feito-crianca-61222 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR}}{{cite news |date=16 April 1988 |title=Gugu agora também aos domingos |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=0qX8s2k1IRwC&dat=19880416&printsec=frontpage&hl=pt-BR |newspaper=Jornal do Brasil |page=37 |language=pt-BR |via=Google News}}{{cite web |date=22 November 2019 |title=História de Gugu Liberato se confunde com a da TV brasileira |url=https://www.correiodopovo.com.br/arteagenda/hist%C3%B3ria-de-gugu-liberato-se-confunde-com-a-da-tv-brasileira-1.382212 |accessdate=23 November 2019 |website=Correio do Povo |language=pt-BR}}{{cite web |last1=Martins Ribeiro |first1=Raquel |date=23 November 2019 |title=De office boy a ícone da TV: relembre a carreira de Gugu Liberato |url=https://www.metropoles.com/entretenimento/televisao/de-office-boy-a-icone-da-tv-relembre-a-carreira-de-gugu-liberato |accessdate=23 November 2019 |website=Metrópoles |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |last=de Castro |first=Thell |date=22 August 2016 |title=Em 1988, Silvio Santos barrou Gugu na Globo com proposta milionária |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-1988-silvio-santos-barrou-gugu-na-globo-com-proposta-milionaria-12325 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071451/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/em-1988-silvio-santos-barrou-gugu-na-globo-com-proposta-milionaria-12325 |archive-date=20 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR}}

File:Carnaval da Tradição - Sambódromo Rio de Janeiro - 2001 - Ricardo Beliel.jpg.{{Cite web |last=Tesi |first=Romulo |date=28 March 2017 |title=Silvio Santos ficou 'muito contente' com convite para ser enredo, diz presidente |url=https://setor1.band.uol.com.br/silvio-santos-gostou-do-convite-para-ser-enredo-da-tatuape-diz-presidente/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110204932/https://setor1.band.uol.com.br/silvio-santos-gostou-do-convite-para-ser-enredo-da-tatuape-diz-presidente/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Setor 1 |language=pt-BR}}]]

In 1989, 20 days before the Brazil's first direct presidential election since 1960, Santos announced that he would run as a candidate for the Brazilian Municipalist Party. However, the party was delisted from the ballot shortly afterward due to multiple technicalities.{{Cite web |last=Bächtold |first=Felipe |date=18 February 2018 |title=Candidatura de Silvio Santos levou eleição presidencial à Justiça em 1989 |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2018/02/candidatura-de-silvio-santos-levou-eleicao-presidencial-a-justica-em-1989.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181927/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2018/02/candidatura-de-silvio-santos-levou-eleicao-presidencial-a-justica-em-1989.shtml |archive-date=9 July 2021 |accessdate=1 July 2021 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-br}}{{cite web |last=Oliveira |first=Felipe |date=12 September 2014 |title=Há 25 anos, Silvio Santos tentou presidência; você votaria? |url=https://www.terra.com.br/noticias/eleicoes/ha-25-anos-silvio-santos-tentou-presidencia-voce-votaria,b08df5b2bb568410VgnVCM20000099cceb0aRCRD.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830113347/https://www.terra.com.br/noticias/eleicoes/ha-25-anos-silvio-santos-tentou-presidencia-voce-votaria,b08df5b2bb568410VgnVCM20000099cceb0aRCRD.html |archive-date=30 August 2020 |accessdate=28 April 2020 |website=Terra}} Amid financial issues at the broadcaster, agreements were reached to sell Rede Record to Edir Macedo, founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.{{Cite web |last=Werneck |first=Antônio |date=31 May 2012 |title=PF: compra da Record pode ter sido irregular |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/pf-compra-da-record-pode-ter-sido-irregular-5088966 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=O Globo |language=pt-BR |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822070728/https://oglobo.globo.com/rio/pf-compra-da-record-pode-ter-sido-irregular-5088966 |url-status=live }}

In 1991, Santos would premiere one of his most popular series, the hidden camera game show Topa Tudo por Dinheiro. Adapted from the American series Anything for Money,{{Cite web |last=Duarte |first=Marcelo |date=5 January 2024 |title=Opinião – O Curioso: Relembre os quadros mais famosos de pegadinhas na televisão brasileira |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/o-curioso/2024/01/relembre-os-quadros-mais-famosos-de-pegadinhas-na-televisao-brasileira.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613092919/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/o-curioso/2024/01/relembre-os-quadros-mais-famosos-de-pegadinhas-na-televisao-brasileira.shtml |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}} the show would introduce a trademark of Santos throwing paper planes made from banknotes into the studio audience as prizes (a practice that, at one point, drew the ire of the Central Bank of Brazil), and the accompanying catchphrase "Quem quer dinheiro?" ("Who wants money?").{{Cite web |last=de Castro |first=Thell |date=9 December 2018 |title=Ostentação de Silvio Santos entrou na mira do Banco Central; saiba por quê |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/ostentacao-de-silvio-santos-entrou-na-mira-do-banco-central-saiba-por-que-23726 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071453/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/ostentacao-de-silvio-santos-entrou-na-mira-do-banco-central-saiba-por-que-23726 |archive-date=20 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR}}

In 1999, Santos premiered Show do Milhão, a game show that was influenced by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (which would not have a local version until 2017, hosted by Luciano Huck for Globo) and became a major success for SBT through the early-2000s.{{Cite web |last=Gois |first=Ancelmo |date=26 April 2017 |title=Luciano Huck começa a gravar seu novo quadro: 'Quem quer ser um milionário?' |url=https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/ancelmo/post/luciano-huck-comeca-gravar-seu-novo-quadro-quem-quer-ser-um-milionario.html |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Ancelmo – O Globo |language=pt-br |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034409/https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/ancelmo/post/luciano-huck-comeca-gravar-seu-novo-quadro-quem-quer-ser-um-milionario.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Forato |first=Thiago |date=9 November 2019 |title=Problemas de direitos autorais e mania nacional: A incrível história do Show do Milhão |url=https://natelinha.uol.com.br/televisao/2019/11/09/problemas-de-direitos-autorais-e-mania-nacional-a-incrivel-historia-do-show-do-milhao-136537.php |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=NaTelinha |language=pt-br |archive-date=23 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523221400/https://natelinha.uol.com.br/televisao/2019/11/09/problemas-de-direitos-autorais-e-mania-nacional-a-incrivel-historia-do-show-do-milhao-136537.php |url-status=live }}

On 28 August 2001, Santos was held hostage in his mansion by Fernando Dutra Pinto, a suspect in the then-recent kidnapping of his daughter Patricia Abravanel. After holding the presenter captive for eight hours, Fernando was later detained by police, and Santos was released, joined by Governor of São Paulo Geraldo Alckmin.{{Cite news |date=2001-08-30 |title=Silvio Santos sai da casa acompanhado por Alckmin |trans-title=Silvio Santos leaves the house accompanied by Alckmin |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u36048.shtml |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905022557/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u36048.shtml |archive-date=2012-09-05 |access-date=2023-04-29 |work=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}}

In October 2001, Santos entered the reality television market by premiering Casa dos Artistas. The show was inspired by the Dutch format Big Brother; Santos had attempted to acquire the local rights to the format for SBT, but lost to Globo. The series was developed in secret, and only revealed on its premiere date of 28 October 2001, drawing away viewers from Globo's highly-viewed newsmagazine Fantástico. Its similarities to Big Brother led to Globo (who held local rights to the franchise, but had not yet made any plans to produce a Brazilian version){{Cite web |last=Alves |first=Martha |date=12 October 2021 |title=Casa dos Artistas faz 20 anos: conheça bastidores e a história do programa |url=https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/10/casa-dos-artistas-faz-20-anos-conheca-bastidores-e-a-historia-do-programa.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817133559/https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/10/casa-dos-artistas-faz-20-anos-conheca-bastidores-e-a-historia-do-programa.shtml |archive-date=17 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=F5 |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |title="Casa dos Artistas" é julgado como plágio e SBT perde ação milionária |url=http://natelinha.ne10.uol.com.br/noticias/2015/03/25/casa-dos-artistas-e-julgado-como-plagio-e-sbt-perde-acao-milionaria-87230.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908045755/http://natelinha.ne10.uol.com.br/noticias/2015/03/25/casa-dos-artistas-e-julgado-como-plagio-e-sbt-perde-acao-milionaria-87230.php |archive-date=2015-09-08 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Natelinha |language=pt-br |author1=Natelinha }} briefly reaching an injunction to halt its broadcast, but Casa would later return to air. The first season was successful, with SBT averaging 46 ratings points, and the success prompting Globo to launch a local adaptation of Big Brother to capitalize upon it.{{Cite web |last=Alves |first=Martha |date=12 October 2021 |title=Casa dos Artistas faz 20 anos: conheça bastidores e a história do programa |url=https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/10/casa-dos-artistas-faz-20-anos-conheca-bastidores-e-a-historia-do-programa.shtml |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=F5 |language=pt-BR |archive-date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817133559/https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/10/casa-dos-artistas-faz-20-anos-conheca-bastidores-e-a-historia-do-programa.shtml |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last1=Castro |first1=Daniel |last2=Mattos |first2=Laura |date=1 November 2001 |title=Juiz proíbe exibição de programa do SBT |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq0111200130.htm |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |archive-date=11 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111152129/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq0111200130.htm |url-status=live }}

By the 2000s, Programa Silvio Santos was primarily structured as a block of multiple Sunday-afternoon programs rather than as a singular variety show, with Santos focusing more on hosting individual programs, particularly on Wednesday nights. In 2008, Programa Silvio Santos was revived as a variety show, with Santos reviving classic segments and features.{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Daniel |date=25 May 2008 |title=Programa Silvio Santos volta com pegadinha e aviãozinho |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq2505200804.htm |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606235716/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq2505200804.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=22 November 2019 |title=Gugu Liberato: de menino prodígio a empresário de sucesso |url=https://revistaforum.com.br/brasil/2019/11/22/gugu-liberato-de-menino-prodigio-empresario-de-sucesso-64742.html |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Revista Fórum |language=pt-BR |archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119121658/https://revistaforum.com.br/brasil/2019/11/22/gugu-liberato-de-menino-prodigio-empresario-de-sucesso-64742.html |url-status=live }}

File:Silvio Santos em maio de 2019.jpg

With a net worth of US$3.2 billion, Santos was the single biggest individual/natural person taxpayer in Brazil.{{Cite web |last= |date=4 March 2013 |title='Forbes': Silvio Santos e Edir Macedo entram em lista de bilionários |trans-title=Forbes: Silvio Santos and Edir Macedo join the list of billionaires |url=https://www.terra.com.br/economia/forbes-silvio-santos-e-edir-macedo-entram-em-lista-de-bilionarios,2768fbde46890410VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034531/https://www.terra.com.br/economia/forbes-silvio-santos-e-edir-macedo-entram-em-lista-de-bilionarios,2768fbde46890410VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=Terra |language=pt-BR}}

In 2020, Programa Silvio Santos went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with its timeslot filled by compilations of highlights from past episodes of the series and other Silvio Santos programs. In December 2020, the presenter celebrated his 90th birthday privately with his family.{{Cite web |last=Lessa |first=Ricardo |date=11 December 2020 |title=Aos 90 anos, Silvio Santos mantém audiência mesmo com reprises |url=https://valor.globo.com/empresas/noticia/2020/12/11/aos-90-anos-silvio-santos-mantem-audiencia-mesmo-com-reprises.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001232801/https://valor.globo.com/google/amp/empresas/noticia/2020/12/11/aos-90-anos-silvio-santos-mantem-audiencia-mesmo-com-reprises.ghtml |archive-date=1 October 2023 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Valor Econômico |language=pt-br}} In July 2021, Programa Silvio Santos briefly returned to filming for the first time since 2020, but was halted again after Santos was infected with COVID-19.{{Cite web |last=pipocamoderna |title=Sílvio Santos é internado com covid-19 |url=https://www.terra.com.br/diversao/gente/silvio-santos-e-internado-com-covid-19,4bedb7b3518a89e9389cef6ee59d93d9u3kbjsrr.html |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Terra |language=pt-BR |archive-date=20 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071456/https://www.terra.com.br/diversao/gente/silvio-santos-e-internado-com-covid-19,4bedb7b3518a89e9389cef6ee59d93d9u3kbjsrr.html |url-status=live }}

In October 2021, Santos's daughter Patricia Abravanel began to serve as a guest host, filling in for Santos.{{Cite web |date=29 September 2021 |title=SBT coloca Patrícia Abravanel no comando do Programa Silvio Santos |url=https://natelinha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/09/29/sbt-coloca-patricia-abravanel-no-comando-do-programa-silvio-santos-170327.php |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=NaTelinha |language=pt-br |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822071232/https://natelinha.uol.com.br/televisao/2021/09/29/sbt-coloca-patricia-abravanel-no-comando-do-programa-silvio-santos-170327.php |url-status=live }} In April 2022, Santos returned to the program for the first time in eight months, marked by an appearance as a surprise opponent for Ratinho in the show's "Jogo das Três Pistas" game.{{Cite web |last=Oliveira |first=Fernando "Fefito" |date=26 April 2022 |title=Fefito – Silvio Santos volta a gravar seu programa do SBT nestas terça e quinta |url=https://www.uol.com.br/splash/colunas/fefito/2022/04/26/silvio-santos-volta-a-gravar-seu-programa-do-sbt.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407112807/https://www.uol.com.br/splash/colunas/fefito/2022/04/26/silvio-santos-volta-a-gravar-seu-programa-do-sbt.htm |archive-date=7 April 2023 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=UOL Splash |language=pt-br}} However, his return would be brief, as Santos began to steadily reduce his involvement in television work. Santos would step down as host of his eponymous program, with his final episode taped in September 2022 and airing on 26 February 2023; at this time, Patricia took over as the permanent host of Programa Silvio Santos, but Santos would continue to make occasional appearances on the program and other SBT specials.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2023 |title='Não é mais aquela pessoa': qual foi a última aparição de Silvio no SBT? |url=https://www.uol.com.br/splash/noticias/2023/11/07/silvio-santos-ultima-aparicao-sbt.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071529/https://www.uol.com.br/splash/noticias/2023/11/07/silvio-santos-ultima-aparicao-sbt.htm |archive-date=20 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=UOL Splash |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |last= |date=11 February 2023 |title=Aposentadoria? Aos 92 anos, Silvio Santos não deve voltar mais aos domingos |url=https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/aposentadoria-aos-92-anos-silvio-santos-nao-deve-voltar-mais-aos-domingos-97331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618203834/https://noticiasdatv.uol.com.br/noticia/televisao/aposentadoria-aos-92-anos-silvio-santos-nao-deve-voltar-mais-aos-domingos-97331 |archive-date=18 June 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Notícias da TV |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |last=Dracz |first=Juliana |date=3 March 2023 |title=Com Patricia Abravanel no comando, SBT altera logo do programa Silvio Santos |url=https://observatoriodatv.uol.com.br/noticias/com-patricia-abravanel-no-comando-sbt-altera-logo-do-programa-silvio-santos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415183118/https://observatoriodatv.uol.com.br/noticias/com-patricia-abravanel-no-comando-sbt-altera-logo-do-programa-silvio-santos |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Observatório da TV |language=pt-BR}}

Santos would also step down from his role as vice president of SBT in April 2023, in favor of his daughter Daniela Beyruti.{{Cite web |last=Marques |first=Gilvan |date=12 December 2023 |title=Silvio Santos chega aos 93 anos recluso e longe da TV |url=https://entretenimento.r7.com/famosos-e-tv/silvio-santos-chega-aos-93-anos-recluso-e-longe-da-tv-12122023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221180350/https://entretenimento.r7.com/famosos-e-tv/silvio-santos-chega-aos-93-anos-recluso-e-longe-da-tv-12122023 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=R7 Entretenimento |language=pt-BR}} Despite these moves, Santos did not officially announce his retirement.

File:15 12 2020 Lançamento de selo alusivo ao aniversário de 90 anos do comunicador Silvio Santos (50724490531) (cropped).jpg

Due to his extremely charismatic personality, Santos was one of the most influential and beloved people in Brazil, and was considered to be a "timeless" figure of Brazilian entertainment.{{Cite web |date=17 August 2024 |title='Ícone da TV': morte de Silvio repercute na imprensa internacional |url=https://www.uol.com.br/splash/noticias/2024/08/17/silvio-santos-repercussao-internacional.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817180443/https://www.uol.com.br/splash/noticias/2024/08/17/silvio-santos-repercussao-internacional.htm |archive-date=17 August 2024 |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=UOL Splash |language=pt-br}} In an obituary after his death, Argentine newspaper Clarín praised Santos's skills and self-confidence on-air.

Santos's other trademark was wearing a full-size microphone on his chest (although he would eventually abandon this practice in late 2014).

Silvio Santos was portrayed by José Rubens Chachá in the 2022 biographical television series O Rei da TV.{{Cite web |date=16 August 2023 |title=O Rei da TV: série sobre Silvio Santos chega ao Disney+ |url=https://www.disney.com.br/novidades/o-rei-da-tv-serie-sobre-silvio-santos-chega-ao-disney-plus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820071626/https://www.disney.com.br/novidades/o-rei-da-tv-serie-sobre-silvio-santos-chega-ao-disney-plus |archive-date=20 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=Disney.com |language=pt-BR}} He was also portrayed by Rodrigo Faro in the 2024 biographical film Silvio.{{Cite web |url=https://extra.globo.com/blogs/telinha/post/2024/05/filme-sobre-silvio-santos-estrelado-por-rodrigo-faro-tem-novas-cenas-divulgadas-sonhava-em-ser-como-ele.ghtml |title=Filme sobre Silvio Santos estrelado por Rodrigo Faro tem novas cenas divulgadas: 'Sonhava em ser como ele' |date=14 May 2024 |website=Extra |access-date=19 August 2024 |first=Zean |last=Bravo |language=pt-BR |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822071235/https://extra.globo.com/blogs/telinha/post/2024/05/filme-sobre-silvio-santos-estrelado-por-rodrigo-faro-tem-novas-cenas-divulgadas-sonhava-em-ser-como-ele.ghtml |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://g1.globo.com/fantastico/noticia/2024/08/18/rodrigo-faro-fala-sobre-viver-silvio-santos-no-cinema-luciano-huck-e-marcos-mion-tambem-comentam-inspiracao.ghtml |title=Rodrigo Faro fala sobre viver Silvio Santos no cinema; Luciano Huck e Marcos Mion também comentam inspiração |date=18 August 2024 |website=Globo.com |access-date=19 August 2024 |language=pt-BR |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819023317/https://g1.globo.com/fantastico/noticia/2024/08/18/rodrigo-faro-fala-sobre-viver-silvio-santos-no-cinema-luciano-huck-e-marcos-mion-tambem-comentam-inspiracao.ghtml |url-status=live }}

{{Main article|Death of Silvio Santos}}

Santos died due to a bronchopneumonia, a complication provoked by H1N1, in São Paulo, on 17 August 2024. He was 93, and had been hospitalized at Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital since the beginning of August 2024.{{Cite news |date=17 August 2024 |title=Silvio Santos morre aos 93 anos em São Paulo |trans-title=Silvio Santos dies at age 93 in Sao Paulo |url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/08/17/silvio-santos-morre-aos-93-anos-em-sao-paulo.ghtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817131240/https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/08/17/silvio-santos-morre-aos-93-anos-em-sao-paulo.ghtml |archive-date=17 August 2024 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=G1 |location=São Paulo |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite news |date=17 August 2024 |title=Silvio Santos, um dos maiores comunicadores da TV brasileira, morre aos 93 anos |trans-title=Silvio Santos, one of the greatest communicators on Brazilian TV, dies at 93 |url=https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/silvio-santos-um-dos-maiores-comunicadores-da-tv-brasileira-morre-aos-93-anos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817135043/https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/silvio-santos-um-dos-maiores-comunicadores-da-tv-brasileira-morre-aos-93-anos/ |archive-date=17 August 2024 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=CNN Brazil |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite news|date=17 August 2024|title=Morre Silvio Santos, figura mitológica da televisão brasileira, aos 93 anos|trans-title=Silvio Santos, a mythological figure on Brazilian television, dies at 93|url=https://www.publico.pt/2024/08/17/publico-brasil/noticia/morre-silvio-santos-figura-mitologica-televisao-brasileira-93-anos-2101093|url-status=live|access-date=18 August 2024|work=Púbico|language=pt-PT|archive-date=19 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034410/https://www.publico.pt/2024/08/17/publico-brasil/noticia/morre-silvio-santos-figura-mitologica-televisao-brasileira-93-anos-2101093}}

His body was not veiled and was buried in Israelite Cemetery of Butantã.{{Cite web |date=18 August 2024 |title=Em cerimônia judaica, Silvio Santos é enterrado no Cemitério Israelita do Butantã, Zona Oeste de SP |trans-title=In a Jewish ceremony, Silvio Santos is buried in the Israeli Cemetery of Butantã, West Zone of SP |url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/08/18/em-cerimonia-judaica-silvio-santos-e-enterrado-no-cemiterio-israelita-do-butanta-zona-oeste-de-sp.ghtml |access-date=18 August 2024 |website=G1 |language=pt-br |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819034430/https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2024/08/18/em-cerimonia-judaica-silvio-santos-e-enterrado-no-cemiterio-israelita-do-butanta-zona-oeste-de-sp.ghtml |url-status=live }} He did not want tributes or large wakes, which was respected by the family. Because he was Jewish, he was buried, since he could not be cremated.{{Cite news |last=Oliveira |first=Fábia |date=17 August 2024 |title=Morre Silvio Santos; apresentador estava internado há 17 dias |trans-title=Silvio Santos dies; the presenter had been hospitalized for 17 days |url=https://www.metropoles.com/colunas/fabia-oliveira/morre-silvio-santos-apresentador-estava-internado-ha-17-dias |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817151333/https://www.metropoles.com/colunas/fabia-oliveira/morre-silvio-santos-apresentador-estava-internado-ha-17-dias |archive-date=17 August 2024 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=Metrópoles |language=pt-BR}}

• List of Brazilians by net worth

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Grinberg |first=Keila |year=2005 |title=Os judeus no Brasil |publisher=Editora Record |isbn=85-200-0699-X}}
• {{Cite book |last=Silva |first=Arlindo |year=2002 |title=A fantástica história de Sílvio Santos |publisher=Editora do Brasil |isbn=85-10-03063-4}}

• {{IMDb name|764277|Sílvio Santos}}
• [http://www.sbt.com.br/ Official SBT site]
• [http://gruposilviosantos.com.br/ Official Group]
• {{Discogs artist|Silvio Santos}}

{{Order of Cultural Merit}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos, Silvio}}

Category:1930 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:20th-century Sephardi Jews

Category:21st-century Sephardi Jews

Category:Abravanel family

Category:Brazilian billionaires

Category:Brazilian businesspeople

Category:Brazilian game show hosts

Category:Brazilian media executives

Category:Brazilian people of Greek-Jewish descent

Category:Brazilian people of Turkish-Jewish descent

Category:Brazilian Sephardi Jews

Category:Brazilian television company founders

Category:Businesspeople from Rio de Janeiro (city)

Category:Deaths from bronchopneumonia

Category:Grupo Silvio Santos

Category:Kidnapped Brazilian people

Category:Mass media people from Rio de Janeiro (city)