C harles Bronfman is a Canadian-American businessman, philanthropist, and an heir to the Seagram Company fortune. He is the son of Samuel Bronfman, the founder of the Canadian distilling giant that became one of the largest spirits companies in the world, with iconic brands like Crown Royal and Chivas Regal. Charles and his older brother, Edgar, inherited the company after their father's death.

While his brother Edgar ran the company, Charles was a major shareholder and also the longtime chairman and principal owner of the Montreal Expos Major League Baseball team. The family's fortune was significantly altered when his nephew, Edgar Bronfman Jr., steered Seagram to sell its valuable stake in DuPont to fund a move into the entertainment industry, acquiring MCA, which included Universal Studios. This move proved to be disastrous and led to the eventual breakup and sale of the Seagram empire. Charles has since dedicated his life to philanthropy, co-founding Birthright Israel, a program that sponsors free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults, and establishing numerous other foundations.