W esley Batista, along with his brother Joesley Batista, is a principal owner of JBS S.A., one of the largest and most powerful meat processing companies in the world. He is the son of José Batista Sobrinho, who founded the company as a small slaughterhouse in Brazil. Wesley and his brother took over the family business and, through a series of audacious, debt-fueled acquisitions, transformed it from a domestic Brazilian company into a global protein behemoth.

Under their leadership, JBS acquired a series of major American meatpacking companies, including Swift & Company and Pilgrim's Pride, making it the world's largest processor of beef and a major player in pork and poultry. However, the brothers' careers have been marked by massive controversy. In 2017, they became central figures in a major corruption scandal in Brazil, admitting to bribing hundreds of politicians. As part of a plea deal, they paid a record-breaking fine, and Wesley served a brief prison sentence. Despite the scandal, the family retains a controlling stake in the global food giant.