Ernesto Bertarelli is a well-known name around the world. He is an Italian born Swiss entrepreneur, businessperson and philanthropist. The company is well recognized as the for its biotech venture Serono. The company makes the billion-dollar multiple sclerosis drug Rebig. Bertarelli took over the family business after his father’s death in the year 1998. Ernesto was born in Rome on 22 September 1965.
In the year 1977, he settled in Switzerland. Bertarelli was ranked as the 94th Richest Person compiled by the Forbes magazine. On the educational front, he graduated from Babson College in 1989. He further went ahead to complete MBA from Harvard Business School. In the year 2013, Plymouth University conferred Ernesto with a Honorary Doctorate of Marine Sciences.
Bertarelli Family Profile
Let us take a look at the illustrious family of Bertarellis
Bertarelli Parents – Fabio Bertarelli and Maria Iris
Father of Ernesto Bertailli, Fabio was the first one to bring genetic engineering to Italy. He married Maria Iris in the year 1964. She was from Tunisia. As a member of the Bertailli family, Maria played a vital role in the development of Serono. She currently lives in Gstaad, Switzerland and runs a vineyard with the name Colle Massari along with her brother.
Bertarelli Siblings Dona Bertarelli
Dona Bertarelli (Sister)
Born – 1968
Dona Bertarelli is the elder sister of the business giant Ernesto Bertarelli. She is the co-president of the Bertarelli Foundation. A passionate sailor, she has won awards like the 2010 Bol d’Or Mirabaud and Rolex Fastnet 2013. Dona pursues her passion with her team Spindrift racing. Dona was an active member in the family business from the year 1992 to 1997. She serves as the Executive Director, Public and Professional Affairs. She has been a major force in setting up the Serono Foundation and Serono Symposia. Dona sold out Serono Symposia to Merck KGaA in the year 2007. She holds pursued BSc from Boston University’s College of Communications.
Bertarelli Spouse – Kirsty Bertarelli
Born – 30 June 1971
Kirtsy is a songwriter by profession and a former Miss United Kingdom. She ended up as the second runner-up in the 1988 Miss World pageant. Kirsty served as the owner of biotech giant Serono until 2007. Kirsty is passionate about singing and started her career in music after moving to London in the year 1993. One of her famous hits is Black Coffee, which came out in the year 2000. Her compositions have also appeared in movies like Twilight, Hands High, Disappeared and Beg Steal and Borrow. Kirsty married Ernesto Bertarelli in 2000. The couple have three kids from the marriage. They have settled in Gstaad.
Children of Ernesto and Kirsty Bertarelli
• Alceo Bertarelli
• Chiara Bertarelli
• Falco Bertarelli
Bertarelli Family Net Worth
According to Forbes Magazine in 2014, Ernesto Bertarelli & Family has been rated as the 103rd on the list of World billionaires. His current net worth is $ 11.4 billion.