| Birth Day | September 20, 1928 |
| Birth Place | Canada |
| Age | 92 YEARS OLD |
| Died On | March 3, 2018(2018-03-03) (aged 89) |
| Residence | Le Domaine Laforest, Quebec, Canada |
| Known for | Philanthropy |
| Spouse(s) | Paul Desmarais (1953-2013; his death) |
| Children | Paul Jr., André, Sophie, and Louise |
Jacqueline Desmarais and her family have made a prominent mark in the Canadian finance sector. With a net worth estimated to be a staggering $5.1 billion in 2024, the Desmarais family has created a significant financial empire. Jacqueline Desmarais, along with her late husband Paul Desmarais, has built an influential legacy through their business endeavors in banking, insurance, and investment. Their wealth has been amassed over the years, and they are recognized as one of the most affluent families in Canada. The Desmarais family's success in the world of finance has solidified their reputation as influential figures in the Canadian business landscape.
She was born Jacqueline Maranger in Sudbury, Ontario, to Ernest Marenger and Albertine Thanase, on September 20, 1928.
On September 8, 1953, at Notre-de-Dame-de-Grâce, Quebec, she wed the financier Paul Desmarais (1927-2013), also a native of Sudbury.
In 2011, she received an honorary doctorate from the Université de Montréal's faculty of music.
In 2013, Desmarais was named an officer of the Order of Canada. In 2016, she was awarded a Companion of Quebec's Order of Arts and Letters.
According to Forbes, Desmarais had a net worth of $4.2 billion in January 2015.
In 2016, Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital christened the Jacqueline Desmarais Pavilion.
Jacqueline Desmarais died on March 3, 2018, aged 89.
