Bassil was born in Lebanon to François and Raymonde (née Al-Lati) Bassil, one of three children.[6] His paternal grandfather was an entrepreneur who in 1950 founded the Société Commerciale et Agricole Byblos Bassil Frères & Co., a Lebanese company involved in natural silk and leather tanning, and in agricultural and consumer lending activities. The company became Byblos Bank S.A.L. in 1963.[7]