Anyone wanting to figure out the Middle East must get a grip with Lebanon first. Dithering between East and West, this teensy-weensy nation, despite of a bloody history and so much of tragedy (blame it on the complex and corrupt politics of this region) has always managed to wow anyone who had had the gut to cut through all that gore and explore its charms. Boasting of so much diversity in so little space — from flashy cities to frenetic beauty and from an infectious culture to glamorous nightlife, this exuberant land of divine food, breathtaking ruins and achingly attractive scenery has also been home to a spade of rich and famous men who have thrown the rule book aside to write their own destiny. Be it fashion moguls like Elie Saab and Zuhail Murad, world’s richest man Carlos Slim Helu, legendary rocker Frank Zappa or world-famous author Gibran Kahlil Gibran, you will be surprised to learn the kind of extraordinary men the land has borne. Delve deep into the inspiring lives of these Lebanese men in the biographies below. Their timeline, trivia, and other facts captured will make for an invigorating read, indeed.
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Birthdate: August 21, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American record producer, singer, and songwriter. Tankian is credited with co-founding the popular band System of a Down. Renowned for his wide vocal range and unusual delivery, Serj Tankian is widely considered one of the best heavy metal vocalists of all time. Also a political activist, Tankian co-founded Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization.
Birthdate: January 6, 1883
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bsharri, Lebanon
Died: April 10, 1931
Lebanese author and poet Khalil Gibran is best remembered for his bestselling works The Prophet and Broken Wings. One of the leaders of the Mahjar movement of Arabic literature, he specialized in incorporating mythological and mystical symbols in his works and was inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche and William Blake.
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Nassim Nicholas Taleb(Essayist and Mathematical Statistician Best Known for His Books: ‘The Black Swan’ and ‘Antifragile’)
Birthdate: 1960 AD
Birthplace: Amioun, Lebanon
Lebanese-American scholar and statistician Nassim Nicholas Taleb is known for his work on risk management through uncertainty and probability. His five-volume essay Incerto included his bestselling book The Black Swan. Named to Forbes’s Most Influential Management Gurus list, he is the co-editor-in-chief of the academic journal Risk and Decision Analysis.
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Carlos Ghosn(Former Chairman and CEO of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance)
Birthdate: March 9, 1954
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
Carlos Ghosn is a French–Lebanese–Brazilian businessman who served as the CEO of Michelin North America. He also served as the chairman and CEO of Nissan and Renault. In 1999, he saved Nissan from near bankruptcy and turned around its fortune. In 2018, he was arrested in Japan for misusing Nissan's assets. He dramatically escaped from the custody is currently an internationally wanted fugitive.
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Maher Zain(Singer-Songwriter Known for His Debut Album 'Thank You Allah')
Birthdate: July 16, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Tripoli, Lebanon
Swedish singer Maher Zain had moved to Sweden from Lebanon with his family at 8. A qualified aeronautical engineer, he is now known for his fusion of Eastern and Western music and for the religious overtones in his songs. He has also worked with UNHCR to support Syrian refugees.
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Michael Atiyah(British-Lebanese Mathematician Who was the Co-Founder of 'Topological K-Theory')
Birthdate: April 22, 1929
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: January 11, 2019
Recipient of Fields Medal and Abel Prize, British-Lebanese mathematician Michael Atiyah emerged as a leading figure in the UK mathematics during the latter half of the 20th century. He specialised in geometry and made remarkable contributions in the fields of geometry, theoretical physics, topology and global analysis, and is best known for proving the Atiyah–Singer index theorem with Isadore Singer.
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Rafic Hariri(Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and from 2000 to 2004)
Birthdate: November 1, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sidon, Lebanon
Died: February 14, 2005
Former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri gained immense wealth through his construction business and became the world’s fourth-richest politician. His charitable initiatives included education projects in Lebanon. The unrest after his assassination in a car bomb explosion eventually led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.
Birthdate: July 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Beirut
Lebanese designer Elie Saab had started dressing up his sisters in scraps at age 10. Known for his ornate bridal couture, combining Western silhouettes and Middle-Eastern embellishments, he was the first non-Italian in the governing body of the Milan Fashion Week. He also ventured into interior design in Dubai.
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Fares Fares(Actor)
Birthdate: April 29, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
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Michael Malarkey(Actor)
Birthdate: June 21, 1983
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
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Haaz Sleiman(Film actor)
Birthdate: July 1, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
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Ardem Patapoutian(Known for his work in characterizing the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature)
Birthdate: October 2, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
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Edmond Safra(Lebanese-Brazilian Banker )
Birthdate: August 6, 1932
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Died: December 3, 1999
Edmond Safra was a Lebanese Brazilian banker. His father was a prominent banker, and he began his career working at his father’s bank. He was hardworking, ambitious, and street-smart and started earning millions while still in his teens. He was also a major philanthropist. He died in an arson that attracted wide media interest.
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Ragheb Alama(Lebanese Singer, Dancer and Television Star)
Birthdate: June 7, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Beirut
Lebanese singer and TV personality Ragheb Alama started his career with the TV talent show Studio El Fan. The Murex d'Or Award-winning artist is now one of the most popular Arab music artists of the world. A philanthropist, too, he launched the Saint George Schools to educate Arab children.
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Ibrahim Maalouf(Jazz Trumpeter & Composer Known for His Work in the Classical, Jazz, and Jazz-Rock Fusion Genres)
Birthdate: November 5, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Ibrahim Maalouf is a French-Lebanese composer and jazz trumpeter. In addition to his many studio albums, Maalouf is also known for his contribution as a composer for many movie soundtracks and symphonic orchestras. In 2014, he was honored at the French Music Awards with the prestigious Best World Music Artist award.
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Ziad Rahbani(Most Influential Lebanese Composer During the Civil War and Son of Legends 'Assi Rahbani' and 'Fairuz')
Birthdate: January 1, 1956
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Antelias, Lebanon
Lebanese composer and pianist Ziad Rahbani was no stranger to music as a child, being the son of legendary Lebanese musicians Assi Rahbani and Fairouz. Known for his tracks such as El Hilwa Di and Allamouni and his iconic album Bennesbeh Labokra Chou, he is a legend in his own right.
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Nicolas Hayek(Entrepreneur)
Birthdate: February 19, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Died: June 28, 2010
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Camille Chamoun(2nd President of Lebanon (1952 - 1958))
Birthdate: April 3, 1900
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Deir El Qamar, Lebanon
Died: August 7, 1987
Camille Chamoun served as President of Lebanon from September 23, 1952, to September 22, 1958, and later founded the National Liberal Party. He emerged as a prominent Christian leader during the 1958 Lebanon crisis. An attempt to overthrow his government in June 1958, amidst the crisis, was prevented after he appealed to the US leading to a US military intervention.
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Wael Kfoury(Lebanese Singer-Songwriter Known as 'The King of Romance' for His Aching Ballad Style)
Birthdate: September 15, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zahlé
Wael Kfoury is a legend in the Arab music scene and is known as The King of Romance for his soulful ballads. He soared to fame after winning the TV show Studio el Fan and later released chart-topping hits such as Ma Wa'adtak bi Njoum el Leyl and Meen Habeebi Ana.
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Hassan Nasrallah(Lebanese Military and Political Leader - 3rd Secretary-General of Hezbollah)
Birthdate: August 31, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bourj Hammoud
Hassan Nasrallah has been the Secretary-General of Hezbollah since 1992. The Lebanese politician was the son of a grocer in Beirut and was forced to flee when the civil war broke out. He later joined a Lebanese paramilitary group and then the Hezbollah movement. He is also known as al-Sayyid Hassan.
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Samir Bannout(Lebanese Retired Professional Bodybuilder and Coach)
Birthdate: November 7, 1955
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
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Elie Hobeika(A Militia Commander in the Lebanese Forces During the Lebanese Civil War)
Birthdate: September 22, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Baskinta, Lebanon
Died: January 24, 2002
Elie Hobeika gained notoriety for his ruthlessness and involvement in Sabra and Shatila massacre as commander of Lebanese Forces militia during Lebanese Civil War. He later served as president of Lebanese Forces until the January 1986 Lebanese Forces coup when he was ousted from the position. Thereafter he formed Promise Party and served two terms in the Parliament of Lebanon.
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Rashīd Riḍā(Sunni Islamic Scholar, Theologian, Reformer, and Revivalist)
Birthdate: September 23, 1865
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lebanon
Died: August 22, 1935
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Malcolm Kerr(American Political Scientist)
Birthdate: October 8, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Died: January 18, 1984
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Saad Hariri(Former Prime Minister of Lebanon)
Birthdate: April 18, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic al-Hariri, Saad Hariri joined politics after his father was assassinated. After being educated in France and Saudi Arabia, Saad took over his father’s construction business and expanded into the telecom sector. The Future Movement member has also been Lebanon’s prime minister twice.
Birthdate: May 4, 1923
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Antelias
Died: June 21, 1986
Assi Rahbani, part of the Lebanese composer duo The Rahbani Brothers, which also had his brother Mansour Rahbani, previously worked with Near East Radio. He later mostly composed music for his singer wife Nouhad Haddad, better known as Fairuz. The husband-wife duo also appeared in movies such as The Exile.
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Riad al-Sulh(Prime Minister of Lebanon (1946 - 1951))
Birthdate: 1894 AD
Birthplace: Sidon, Lebanon
Died: July 17, 1951
One of the most prominent figures of Lebanon’s independence movement, Riad al-Sulh became the country’s first prime minister after its independence. He was assassinated by Syrian Nationalist Party members, while visiting King Abdullah of Jordan. He is regarded as one of the founding fathers of Lebanon.
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Émile Lahoud(11th President of Lebanon (1998 - 2007))
Birthdate: January 12, 1936
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Beirut
Former president of Lebanon, Émile Lahoud was initially part of the Lebanese army and navy. The son of pro-independence politician and military general Jamil Lahoud, he had a 30-year military career and was part of the Lebanese Civil War, too. He also strengthened the Lebanese army with the help of Syria.
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Karl Wolf(Musician, Singer, Songwriter)
Birthdate: April 18, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Beirut
Lebanese-Canadian musician Karl Wolf soared to fame with his cover version of Toto's Africa. Born to musician parents in Beirut, he moved to Sharjah and then to Montreal with his family. His hits include tracks such as Butterflies and collaborations such as Yalla Habibi. He is also part of the collective BAE.
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Wadih El Safi(Legendary Lebanese Singer and Forefather of the Country's Musical Culture)
Birthdate: November 1, 1921
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lebanon
Died: October 11, 2013
A Lebanese cultural icon, Wadih El Safi was 16 when he began his musical journey with a singing contest on Lebanese Radio. Over his 75-year career, he had sung more than 5,000 tracks, mostly of the Lebanese folk genre, and in multiple languages, including French and Portuguese.
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Antoun Saadeh(Lebanese Politician and Founder of the 'Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP)')
Birthdate: March 1, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dhour El Choueir, Lebanon
Died: July 8, 1949
Lebanese politician and the founder of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Antoun Saadeh was also a prolific author, who wrote several books while in prison. He announced a revolution in Lebanon and was promised support by Syria, though Syria handed him over to the Lebanese government, which eventually executed him.
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Suleiman Frangieh(5th President of Lebanon (1970 - 1976))
Birthdate: June 15, 1910
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Zgharta, Lebanon
Died: July 23, 1992
Former Lebanese president and Marada Movement politician Suleiman Franjieh was largely blamed for the civil war in his country in the 1970s. Initially an import-export dealer, he was later elected to the Lebanese Parliament. He was named The Tough Man for his mercurial temper and ruthless demeanour.
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Fakhr al-Din II(Sanjak-bey of Sidon-Beirut (1592 - 1606), Regarded as the Founde of Modern 'Lebanon')
Birthdate: August 6, 1572
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Baakleen, Lebanon
Died: April 13, 1635
Regarded as the father of modern Lebanon, Fakhr al-Din II had been the Sanjak-bey of Sidon-Beirut and Safed. He had also governed Baalbek and Tripoli Eyalet. He was also the first to unite the Druze and Maronite districts of Lebanon. He was eventually executed by the Ottomans in Constantinople.
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Bashir Shihab II(Ruler)
Birthdate: January 2, 1767
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Gazir, Iran
Died: 1850 AD
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Kamal Jumblatt(Lebanese Leader of the Progressive Socialist Party (1949 - 1977))
Birthdate: December 6, 1917
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Moukhtara, Lebanon
Died: March 16, 1977
Lebanese politician and leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt not only established the Progressive Socialist Party but also led the National Movement against the Lebanese Front. He was assassinated along with his driver and bodyguard by his political opponents. A supporter of the Palestine Liberation Organization, he had penned many books, too.
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Gebran Tueni(Lebanese Politician and Editor of 'An Nahar' - Assassinated as Part of Syria's Opponents in Lebanon)
Birthdate: September 17, 1957
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Died: December 12, 2005
Gebran Tueni, who served as director-editorialist of An Nahar, gained international attention writing a front-page letter to Bashar Assad for withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Tueni cofounded Qornet Shehwan Gathering, contributed to Cedar Revolution demonstrations and became Member of Parliament of Lebanon. He was killed in 2005 as part of a series of assassinations that struck Lebanon since 2004.
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Nabih Berri(Lebanese Politician and Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon)
Birthdate: January 28, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bo
A legendary figure of Lebanese politics, Nabih Berri was elected as the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon for the 7th consecutive term in May 2022. He also heads the Lebanese Amal Movement as its president. He was a successful lawyer before joining politics and worked with the Court of Appeals.
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Assi El Helani(Lebanese Singer & Actor)
Birthdate: November 28, 1970
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Popular Lebanese singer-actor Assi El Helani is also known as The Knight of the Arab Song. Known for his hit tracks such as Shou Bkhaf Alayki, Habibi Yalli Nasini, and Wani Mareq Mareet, he was 17 when he began his career on the show Studio Al Fan.
Birthdate: June 10, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amsheet
Lebanese composer, singer, and oud player Marcel Khalife gained international fame with songs such as Rita and the Rifle. Devoted to the Palestinian cause, he is inspired by the Communist Party and the poems of Mahmoud Darwish. His humanitarian efforts made him the 2005 UNESCO Artist for Peace.
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Charles Habib Malik(Lebanese Diplomat, Academic, Politician, and Philosopher)
Birthdate: 1906 AD
Died: December 28, 1987
Charles Habib Malik was a Lebanese diplomat, academic, politician, and philosopher. He is best remembered for his role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Charles Habib Malik is also remembered for his service as the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1956 and 1958.
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Robbie Farah(Australian Former Professional Rugby League Player)
Birthdate: January 23, 1984
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Campsie, Australia
Height: 587'3" (17899 cm)
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Samir Geagea(Lebanese Politician and Executive Chairman of the Lebanese Forces)
Birthdate: October 25, 1952
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Beirut
Known as Al-Hakim, or The Doctor, Lebanese politician Samir Geagea was initially part of the Kataeb Party and then joined the Lebanese Forces. Born into a family of farmers, he had started studying medicine before the civil war forced him to take up a military and political career.
Birthdate: August 7, 1949
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beirut
Walid Jumblatt is a Lebanese Druze politician who has been serving as the leader of the popular Progressive Socialist Party for many years now. A former militia commander, Walid Jumblatt also played a key role in the Syrian Civil War. Since the late-1970s, Walid Jumblatt has been the subject of photography like many other political leaders around the world.
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Musa al-Sadr(1st Leader of the Amal Movement from 1974 to 1978)
Birthdate: June 4, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Qom, Iran
Musa al-Sadr was an Iranian-born Lebanese scholar and political leader. He founded the Amal Movement, a political party associated with the Shia sect. He was born into an influential family tracing to Musa Ibn Jaafar, the seventh Shia Imam. At the peak of his popularity, he was considered a towering figure in Shia politics. He went missing in August 1978.
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Raymond III, Count of Tripoli(Ruler)
Birthdate: 1140 AD
Birthplace: Tripoli, Lebanon
Died: August 31, 1187
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Prince Moulay Ismail of Morocco(Family Member)
Birthdate: May 7, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
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Tammam Salam(Prime Minister of Lebanon (2014 - 2016), Acting President of Lebanon (2014 - 2016))
Birthdate: May 13, 1945
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Beirut
Lebanese politician Tammam Salam served as Minister of Culture from 2008 to 2009. He was assigned to form new government following resignation of Najib Mikati's government. Supported by March 14 Alliance as also by Mikati, Salam served as Prime Minister of Lebanon from February 2014 to December 2016 and as acting President of Lebanon from May 2014 to October 2016.
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Omar Bugiel(Lebanese Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Striker)
Birthdate: January 3, 1994
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
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Michel Sulaiman(12th President of Lebanon (2008 - 2014))
Birthdate: November 21, 1948
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Amsheet
Former president of Lebanon, Michel Sulaiman initially commanded the Lebanese Armed Forces. An Independent Party leader, he has been part of the Lebanese Civil War, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the Operation Nahr el-Bared, among other military campaigns. His many honors include the National Order of the Cedar.
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Joan Oumari(Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Centre-Back)
Birthdate: August 19, 1988
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
