Everyone loves an American dream story, even if the subject isn’t American.

Silvio Santos, also known as Senor Abravanel, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1930, the son of humble Jewish immigrant parents from Turkey and Greece. He began his working career as a street vendor, and worked his way up working in the circus, radio, and TV.

Later, Silvio went on to become a popular TV show host, and in 1981, founded the television station SBT, now the second-largest TV station in Brazil. He even ran for president in 1989 (but he was disqualified).

He is now one of the richest men in Brazil.

In his television career, Silvio became famous for his trademark laugh and his funny tie-microphone, pictured at right. He used to be known as “o peru que fala,” or the talking turkey, because of his constantly flushed face.

He also brought versions of popular TV shows from abroad to his shows, including Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Candid Camera. He is also one of the most imitated TV characters in Brazil, and is regularly imitated by the two presenters of Rede TV’s “Panico” show.

You can read more about Silvio’s life, the complete and abridged versions, on his website (in Portuguese).

Silvio still works as a wildly popular TV presenter, even at 77 years old.