Career
He is also the cousin of Carlos Slim Helu, who as of 2013 is the second richest person in the world as ranked by Forbes
Born in Mexico City, Harp is most famous for being the former owner of the biggest Latin American and Mexican bank, Banamex (now part of Citigroup), and was a billion-dollar beneficiary of Citigroup"s 2001 buyout of Banamex. He is also owner of the telecommunication company, Avantel, the second largest telephone company in Mexico (now part of Axtel). Harp is married, with several children.
, the Guerreros of Oaxaca City and Los Padres of San Diego.
In 1994, Harp"s family paid about $30 million after he was held for 106 days by his kidnappers in Mexico City. At the family"s request, the police did not intervene, giving rise to fears that the huge ransom would encourage more kidnappings, and adding to concerns about Mexico"s stability.
In 1996, authorities claimed to have recovered nearly $10 million of the Harp ransom. He also paid for a full-page advertisement in newspapers calling on the government to put a stop to the rising kidnapping phenomenon in Mexico.
Harp funds several charitable foundations:
Fundación Alfredo Harp Helú
Fundación Alfredo Harp Helú Oaxaca (involved in education, health, culture, and conservation in the state of Oaxaca).