Maggi is the world's largest soybean producer.[1] His accusers hold him responsible for the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. His defenders say he is taking Brazil forward. In this respect he is unapologetic, telling The New York Times in 2003:[2]
"To me, a 40 percent increase in deforestation doesn't mean anything at all, and I don't feel the slightest guilt over what we are doing here [...] We're talking about an area larger than Europe that has barely been touched, so there is nothing at all to get worried about".
Maggi received the Golden Chainsaw Award in 2006 from Greenpeace for being the Brazilian who most contributed to the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest.[3]
In 2015, Maggi's net worth was estimated by Forbes at US$1.2 billion, based on his 16% stake in Grupo Andre Maggi.[4]
