Ernesto Bertarelli Owner of the largest pharmaceutical company in Europe - Serono Country: Italy

1. Biography of Ernesto Bertarelli
2. Early Life and Education
3. Business Success and Personal Interests
4. Transition to Sailing

Biography of Ernesto Bertarelli

Ernesto Bertarelli is the owner of Europe's largest pharmaceutical company, Serono. His achievements in the business world have earned him a fortune of $11 billion and the prestigious 76th spot on Forbes' list of the world's richest people. At just 43 years old, Ernesto is the youngest billionaire in Italy and one of the wealthiest individuals globally. He inherited Serono, the largest pharmaceutical company in Europe, from his father, which has a century-long history of successful operations in the biotechnology market.

Early Life and Education

Ernesto was born in 1965 in Rome and received a good education, graduating from Babson College and Harvard University. In 1996, he took over as the head of his family's pharmaceutical company, Serono, which operates in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering. In 1998, after his father's passing, Ernesto became the sole owner of Serono. Utilizing his business acumen and the knowledge gained from prestigious educational institutions, he expanded the company's achievements and established its leading positions in the rankings of global pharmaceutical companies. Serono's biologic drugs, manufactured in its plants, are successfully used to treat anemia and blood disorders in humans.

Business Success and Personal Interests

Ernesto's accomplishments in the business world have resulted in a fortune of $11 billion and a prominent place on Forbes' list of the world's richest individuals. However, his primary passion in life is sailing. It is a pursuit to which he dedicates his soul and a significant portion of his time. In 2003, for the first time in 152 years of the America's Cup sailing race, a European team led by Ernesto Bertarelli emerged victorious. This achievement was recognized by French President Jacques Chirac, who awarded Ernesto a special and prestigious honor - the Legion of Honour.

Ernesto's passion for sailing has led him to spend a considerable amount of his time in training and participating in sailing races held in different parts of the world. In one of his press conferences, he admitted that victories in sports are much more important and fulfilling to him than business successes, showcasing his main life pursuit to the global society. Unable to fully manage a large pharmaceutical company due to the limited time available, Ernesto made the decision to sell his share in the family business.

Transition to Sailing

Last year, the German company Merck became the new owner of Serono, acquiring a controlling stake from Ernesto Bertarelli, who made the joint decision to sell the family business with his sister. With sufficient means of existence and knowledge on how to best utilize them, Ernesto intends to dedicate himself entirely to his lifelong passion - sailing.