Sam Zemurray
1877 – 1961 American businessman, banana magnate
The banana tycoon whose companies helped make and unmake Central American governments.
- Religion
- Jewish
- Affiliations
- Cuyamel Fruit Company; United Fruit Company
Sam Zemurray, a Russian-born immigrant, built a banana fortune and eventually took control of the United Fruit Company. He financed a mercenary-backed coup in Honduras in 1911 to protect his interests, a classic case of banana republic politics. As head of United Fruit he later lobbied hard for the US action that helped topple Guatemala's Arbenz in 1954.
In the timeline
- 1911 Sam Zemurray buys a coup in Honduras central figure
- 1933 Zemurray seizes control of United Fruit mentioned