Ilson Mateus is a Brazilian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and leader of Grupo Mateus (B3: GMAT3), one of Brazil's largest food retail empires (operating hypermarkets, supermarkets, and wholesale clubs). Born in Maranhão, Brazil, in 1964, his early life was defined by extreme poverty: he lost his father at age four, only completed elementary school, and had to work from an early age, including as a shoeshine boy and in a cachaça factory.

His entrepreneurial journey began with an audacious move: at age 21, in the early 1980s, he moved to Serra Pelada in search of gold (a major Brazilian gold rush site). In 1986, he opened a five-square-meter grocery store selling cachaça in Balsas, Maranhão. His philosophy centers on persistence, discipline, and trust in his land.

• Grupo Mateus (Founder & Leader): The core asset, one of Brazil's largest food retail empires (operates Super Mateus, Mix Mateus, and Hyper Mateus).
• Early Struggles: He was a shoeshine boy and lost his father at age four, only completing elementary school.
• Founding Venture: He started his business in 1986 with a five-square-meter grocery store selling cachaça in Maranhão.
• Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in identifying opportunities and modernizing management in the regional retail sector.

Ilson Mateus's strategic genius was his commitment to vertical integration and regional dominance in Brazil's North-East. He successfully expanded his small grocery store into a chain of supermarkets, hypermarkets, and wholesale clubs (Mix Mateus). The Group's success is tied to its mastery of supply chain logistics and its focus on high-volume, low-cost food retail.

Under his leadership, Grupo Mateus became a publicly traded company (B3: GMAT3), with annual revenues reaching R$32 billion. His career provides an inspirational narrative of a former gold prospector who found his true treasure in hard work and retail management. His wealth is secured by the colossal, stable, and continuous demand for essential food retail in Brazil.

Ilson Mateus's social impact is structural, stemming from Grupo Mateus's role as a massive regional employer (thousands of jobs) and foundational provider of essential food and consumer goods in Brazil's North-East, contributing significantly to regional economic stability.

His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives in Maranhão, reflecting his commitment to the region where he grew up in poverty. His career provides a compelling narrative of a self-made entrepreneur who used resilience to create one of the nation's largest food retail chains.

Ilson Mateus maintains the professional, pragmatic style of a self-made entrepreneur. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and discipline, mirroring his commitment to hard work and perseverance.

Residing in Maranhão, Brazil, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to retail scale, logistical efficiency, and the long-term, stable growth of the essential food retail sector in Brazil.