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Paul Desmarais

The Honourable
Paul Desmarais
Born January 4, 1927
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Died October 8, 2013 (aged 86)
Sagard, Quebec, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Other names Paul Guy Desmarais
Alma mater University of Ottawa
Occupation Financier, philanthropist
Known for Chairman of Power Corporation of Canada
Founding Chairman of the Canada China Business Council
Net worth Increase$ 4.5 billion (2012)
Spouse(s) Jacqueline Maranger
Children Paul Desmarais, Jr. (1954)
André Desmarais (1956)
Louise Desmarais (1959)
Sophie Desmarais (1962)
Parent(s) Jean-Noël Desmarais, Lébéa Laforest
Relatives France Chrétien Desmarais
Hélène Blouin Desmarais
Awards Officer of the Order of Canada (1978)
Companion of the Order of Canada(1987)
Officer of the National Order of Quebec (1988)
Commandeur de l’Ordre de Léopold II (1991)
Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (1992)
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (2007)

Paul Desmarais, Sr., PC CC OQ (January 4, 1927 – October 8, 2013) was a Canadian financier and philanthropist, based in Montreal. With an estimated family net worth of US$ 4.5 billion (as of March 2011), Desmarais was ranked by Forbes as the fourth wealthiest person in Canada and 235th in the world. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Power Corporation of Canada (PCC) until 1996 when he passed the reins of management of Power Corporation to his sons, Paul Jr. and André. He then continued to serve as a director and chairman of the executive committee of the board and controlling shareholder. Power Corporation of Canada is a diversified international management and holding company with interests in companies in the financial services, communications and other business sectors.

Desmarais was highly regarded for his standard of integrity and his commitment to a united and prosperous Canada.

Desmarais was born in Sudbury, Ontario, to lawyer Jean-Noël Desmarais (3 May 1897-1983) and Lébéa Laforest (2 September 1899-1984). The Desmarais family is originally from Quebec and descended from Paul Desmarais who moved to Canada from Saint-Sauveur, France.

Desmarais' grandfather Noël Desmarais 1873-1964 (wife Roseanna 1874–1964) founded the town of Noëlville, Ontario, now part of the municipality of French River.

Desmarais was married to Jacqueline Maranger, also from Sudbury. They had two sons: Paul Jr. and André (who is married to former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's daughter France) and two daughters, Louise and Sophie.

The Desmarais family has a large family estate in Sagard, Quebec, Canada, between the villages of Saint-Siméon and Petit-Saguenay: Domaine Laforest. The area of the estate is over 75 square kilometers. Desmarais also owns secondary homes in Palm Beach, Florida and New York.


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