The Fanjul brothers, one of the most influential business families in the Cuban exile community, have once again come into the public spotlight after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, recently mentioned them while discussing the future of Cuba.
During a press appearance, Trump cited families as examples of Cubans who managed to prosper economically after leaving the island, highlighting the business success that many exiles achieved in the United States.
The family—mainly composed of José “Pepe” Fanjul, Alfonso “Alfy” Fanjul, Alexander, Andrés, and Lillian—left Cuba after the triumph of the revolution in 1959, when their sugar estates were nationalized by Fidel Castro’s regime.
After arriving in the United States, they started over in Florida and acquired farmland in the Okeechobee area. Over the years, they managed to rebuild their fortune, eventually becoming a powerhouse in the sugar industry.
Today, companies such as Florida Crystals and Domino Sugar, along with the American Sugar Refining (ASR) group, which is regarded as the largest cane sugar refiner in the world, have control.
According to Forbes, the family's fortune is around 4 billion dollars, while Florida Crystals alone generated revenue close to 5.5 billion dollars in 2024.
The business empire of the Fanjul family also includes investments in the Caribbean. The family owns the Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic and is involved in Central Romana, the largest private employer and landowner in the country.
In addition to their economic power, the Fanjul family has wielded significant political influence in the United States for decades. Historically, they have funded campaigns for candidates from both parties, although in recent years they have strengthened their ties with President Donald Trump.
According to Forbes, since 2016 the family and their companies have donated over 7 million dollars to fundraising committees and super PACs linked to the leader.
One of the recent episodes that brought them back into the media spotlight occurred after a conversation between Trump and Coca-Cola CEO, James Quincey, during the second presidential inauguration. After learning that the company did not use cane sugar in its main product, Trump called his friend José “Pepe” Fanjul to discuss the matter.
That exchange led to the announcement of a new line of Coca-Cola made with cane sugar grown in the United States, a project in which the Fanjul family could be involved.
However, the family's trajectory has also been surrounded by controversy. Various organizations have previously reported environmental issues in Florida, allegations of forced labor in plantations in the Dominican Republic, and an intense lobbying effort in Washington to maintain subsidies and tariff protection for the sugar sector.
According to estimates cited by Forbes, since 1999 the sugar industry has invested over 20 million dollars in lobbying to preserve policies that keep the price of sugar in the United States well above the international average.
Despite those criticisms, the family spokespersons defend their journey as an example of the so-called "American dream," pointing out that their business success is due to hard work after losing everything in Cuba.
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