About
Arturo Elías Ayub is a Mexican entrepreneur best known to television audiences as one of the investors—or “sharks”—on Shark Tank México. Outside of studio lights, he dons many executive roles: América Móvil Director of Strategic Alliances and Content, CEO of Fundación TELMEX Telcel, and director of digital channels Uno TV and Claro Sports. He also serves on the boards of Grupo Carso, Telmex, and Inbursa, providing him with a powerful voice in telecom, finance, and media. A 1.93 m tall, friendly figure, Arturo has emerged as a public face for business education in Latin America, frequently offering advice for would‑be entrepreneurs through books, podcasts, campus lectures, and his engaging social media presence.
Before Fame
Born in Mexico City on 27 April 1966, Arturo grew up in a Lebanese‑Mexican family that prized commerce and community. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Universidad Anáhuac and later completed an executive program at IPADE. In 1996 he joined Telmex—then headed by future father‑in‑law Carlos Slim—as an adviser. Leadership opportunities arrived quickly: by 2001 he was president of the board at Club Universidad Nacional (the Pumas). Under his watch the club pulled off back‑to‑back league titles in 2004, a feat he repeated a decade later with Club León after Grupo Carso bought into the team. Those early victories on the soccer pitch cemented his reputation as a results‑driven negotiator long before reality TV brought him wider fame.
Trivia
- Books on the shelf: Arturo has penned two best‑selling guides for entrepreneurs—El Negociador (2020) and El Emprendedor (2023)—mixing locker‑room anecdotes with board‑room lessons.
- Portfolio philosophy: In a May 2025 interview he revealed that he splits personal investments roughly 60 % in Mexican equities, 25 % in U.S. stocks, and the rest in venture deals and philanthropy, favoring “steady compounding over flashy bets.”
- Graduation speaker: Tec de Monterrey invited him to address its Class of 2025. His core advice: guard your good name “as your most valuable brand.”
- Digital educator: His YouTube series, Aprendiendo a Aprender, breaks down topics like pricing, negotiation, and hiring in under ten minutes, attracting millions of views.
- Height advantage: At nearly two meters tall, he jokes that negotiations go smoother when “the other side has to look up.”
Family Life
Arturo married Johanna Slim Domit in 1995. The couple have three children—Arturo, Johanna, and Alejandro—and live in Mexico City. Through Johanna he became part of the Slim family circle, gaining both a powerful mentor and frequent collaborator in Carlos Slim Helú. Arturo’s older brother, Alfredo Elías Ayub, is also a well‑known business figure, so Sunday gatherings often double as strategy sessions. Despite high‑profile roles, the family keeps a relatively low public profile; their rare joint appearances are usually tied to Fundación TELMEX Telcel’s scholarship or sports initiatives, reinforcing Arturo’s belief that “business makes sense when it improves lives.”
Associated With
On Shark Tank México, Arturo shares the panel with investors such as Marcus Dantus, Ana Victoria García, and the late Carlos Bremer, turning prime‑time pitches into startup seed rounds. In telecom he collaborates daily with América Móvil executives and maintains close ties with board colleagues at Grupo Carso. The sports world still claims a slice of his calendar; he consults informally with Club León management and remains honorary adviser to the Pumas. Aside from business, Arturo is frequently seen in the company of Carlos Slim at charity events such as disaster-relief drives as well as tech-literacy initiatives, capturing a union that fuses business with social purpose.
