José Alencar Gomes da Silva was a Brazilian businessman, entrepreneur and politician who served as the 23rd vice president of Brazil from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010. In business from a young age, Alencar became a self-made multimillionaire as the chief executive of Coteminas, a leading textile manufacturer. In the 1990s, Alencar groomed his son to succeed him at the company.

The vice president of Brazil, officially the vice president of the Federative Republic of Brazil, or simply the vice president of the republic is the second-highest ranking government official in the executive branch of the Government of Brazil, preceded only by the president. The vice president's primary role is to replace the president in the event of their death, resignation, or impeachment, and to temporarily take over the presidential powers and duties while the president is abroad, or otherwise temporarily unable to carry out their duties. The vice president is elected jointly with the president as their running mate.