Thursday, 16 February 2012

Ernesto Bertarelli & family


Inherited biotech firm Serono when father died in 1998. Ran for years; grew revenue to $2.4 billion in 2006. Blockbuster drug: $1.4 billion (annual sales) multiple sclerosis therapy Rebif. Sold company to Germany's Merck 2007. With his sister, took home $9 billion. Avid sailor's Team Alinghi won the America's Cup for the second time in 2007. Lost to rival racing billionaire Larry Ellison in hotly anticipated re-match this February. Launched private equity fund Ares Life Sciences 2008; investing $680 million in healthcare companies. Married to British beauty queen.