Immigrant Entrepreneurs Drive U.S. Economy, From Fortune 500 Giants to Small Businesses
With over 500,000 documented Brazilians living in the U.S., immigrants are not just part of the workforce — they are wealth creators, innovators, and job generators.
ECONOMY
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Strong currency, easier business registration, fewer taxes, and less bureaucracy than in Brazil — for many immigrants, the United States remains the ultimate destination for investors and entrepreneurs.
For them, the “American Dream” often translates into dollars in the bank and a place of influence in the world’s largest economy. “Immigrants are not just workers; they are wealth generators and opportunity creators. They form an essential part of the economic engine of this country,” said Lucas Rafael Moura Caetano, an immigration attorney and IRS-certified tax specialist.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 500,000 documented Brazilians currently live in the U.S., many of them running businesses across strategic sectors of the economy.
One of them is Leonardo, a Brazilian entrepreneur who shifted from car sales in Brazil to new ventures in Florida. “The opportunities here are on another level — you simply cannot compare them with what we had back home,” he noted.
The impact of immigrants goes far beyond individual success stories. A report from the American Immigration Council reveals that 46% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children — the highest rate since 2011.
“When you look at the numbers, it’s undeniable: immigrants are at the heart of U.S. economic growth. From major corporations like Tesla and Google, to small and medium-sized businesses in local communities, their contribution fuels innovation, creates jobs, and sustains America’s global competitiveness,” Caetano emphasized.
Among these success stories is Richard Harary, CEO of Marco Corporation and founder of MacroBaby, the largest baby products store in the United States. “Building a business in the U.S. as an immigrant showed me the power of persistence and vision. MacroBaby is more than a store; it’s about delivering trust, quality, and humanized service to families. That’s what immigrants bring to America — resilience and the ability to transform challenges into thriving enterprises,” Harary stated.
Thousands of immigrant-owned small businesses complement the giants of the Fortune 500, ensuring that the entrepreneurial spirit remains one of the strongest drivers of the U.S. economy.