“A Banker’s Journey” Now Published On Four Continents In Four Languages

In the image of its extraordinary subject—once hailed as “the greatest banker of his generation” by a former president of the World Bank—A Banker’s Journey: How Edmond J. Safra Built a Global Financial Empire has now reached a new milestone: its publication in Israel marks its fourth language and fourth continent.

This internationally acclaimed biography, authored by Financial Journalist and Historian Daniel Gross, is more than just the story of a brilliant financier—it is a sweeping portrait of resilience, vision, and global legacy. With exclusive access to Safra’s personal archives, Gross takes readers deep into the life of a man who began his banking career at 15 when he was sent by his father from Beirut to Milan and went on to build an empire that stretched from Milan to São Paulo, Geneva to New York.

Published in English in 2022, in Portuguese in 2023, in French in 2024, and now in Hebrew in 2025, the biography has captivated a global readership—earning best-seller status in Brazil and critical acclaim from international media:

‘Safra represented the best of the ‘old school of bankers’ who espoused two fundamental rules: ‘Do not risk funds that depositors have entrusted to you. And…know your customer.’” – Washington Independent Review of Books

“The journey of the Rockefeller of Geneva” — Le Temps

“Edmond J. Safra: A legend in his time” — The Jerusalem Report

“Wonderfully written… the first biography of financial prodigy Edmond J. Safra” — Actualité Juive

“A book to decipher the man who called his banks his children” — Brazil Journal

“A compelling and fascinating read” — The Association of Jewish Libraries (US)

Discover the story that spans generations and geographies at: www.abankersjourney.com.

Through Gross’s vivid storytelling, readers discover Safra’s old-school banking values—“Never risk your depositors’ funds. And always know your customer.”—built trust in uncertain times and shaped the global financial landscape. They also encounter a man of deep faith and philanthropy, who gave generously to Jewish communities and humanitarian causes worldwide.

Gross, whose own family traces its roots to Aleppo like Safra’s, reflects:

“In a way, the book is following Edmond Safra’s own journey around the world. He was born in Beirut, spoke seven languages, and built institutions that transcended borders. Everywhere I travel—whether in Brazil, Switzerland, France, or Israel—I meet people who were personally touched by his legacy. That’s what makes telling his story so meaningful.”

A Banker’s Journey is more than a business biography—it’s an exploration of heritage, identity, and the power of one man to shape institutions, lives, and history itself.

About the Author

Daniel Gross is one of the most widely-read writers on finance, economics, and business history. Over the past three decades, he has reported from more than 30 countries, covering everything from the dotcom boom and the rise of China to the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

Gross has worked as a reporter at The New Republic and Bloomberg News, wrote the “Economic View” column in The New York Times, and served as Slate’s “Moneybox” columnist. At Newsweek, where he was a columnist and correspondent, he authored seven cover stories. A frequent guest on television and radio, he has contributed to more than 60 publications, including New York, Fortune, and the Washington Post.

Gross is a bestselling author of eight books, including Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time; Generations of Corning; Dumb Money: How America’s Greatest Financial Minds Bankrupted the Nation; and Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Decline and the Rise of a New Economy.

Gross was educated at Cornell University and holds an AM in American history from Harvard University. His great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Aleppo and Damascus.

To order a copy of his book, visit: https://abankersjourney.com/