Augusto Perfetti is an Italian billionaire heir and co-owner of Perfetti Van Melle, the third-largest confectionery manufacturer in the world. His family’s sweet fortune began in the challenging post-war period of Italy. The company was founded in 1946 in a small town near Milan by his father, Ambrogio, and uncle, Egidio, inspired by the chewing gum that American soldiers brought overseas during World War II.

Augusto and his brother, Giorgio, grew up immersed in the smells and tastes of the confectionery industry. The family’s first hit product was 'Brooklyn gum,' named after the Allied troops, which became immensely popular in the mid-1950s. This early success established the family’s wealth and allowed the brothers to inherit a stable, cash-rich business built on the high-volume, high-margin world of candy and gum.

Augusto Perfetti’s career has been one of strategic growth and consolidation, transforming the family’s Italian chewing gum business into a global confectionery giant. The pivotal moment came in March 2001 when Perfetti SpA acquired the entire outstanding shareholding of Netherlands-based Van Melle, creating Perfetti Van Melle (PVM), immediately positioning it as the world’s third-largest confectionery group.

PVM’s growth under Augusto’s stewardship (alongside his brother Giorgio) was characterized by relentless international expansion, building new manufacturing units across Europe and Asia, and, crucially, high-value acquisitions. In 2006, PVM acquired the Spanish company Chupa Chups, famous for its lollipops and the Smint brand, further diversifying its iconic portfolio, which includes Mentos and Airheads. Although the brothers are highly media-shy and no longer run the day-to-day business, their strategic direction ensured PVM's global footprint, generating billions in annual sales and securing their multi-billion dollar fortune.

Augusto Perfetti and his family maintain an intensely media-shy profile, and their personal charitable endeavors are typically executed discreetly. Their social impact is primarily tied to the immense economic footprint of Perfetti Van Melle, which employs over 19,000 people in more than 39 countries globally.

The PVM Group is highly active in community programs related to education and health in the regions where their factories operate (e.g., establishing a new manufacturing unit in Nigeria in 2014). The family's wealth is a testament to the stability and scale achieved through generations of patient, strategic growth in the consumer goods sector.

Augusto Perfetti embodies the ultra-discreet, sophisticated style of a Swiss-based Italian billionaire heir. His attire is consistently high-end, tailored, and classic, favoring unostentatious European designer wear. His aesthetic is one of supreme privacy, reflecting his status as one of the most media-shy figures in the global confectionery business.

Residing in Lugano, Switzerland, his luxury is expressed through the private indulgence of superyachting and his Ferrari collection. His current 47-meter yacht, Air (named after one of the family’s gum brands), and his historical connection to the high-stakes yacht trading market underscore his affluence. His life is defined by the freedom of commanding a massive private fortune from a distance, enjoying a high-end, secure lifestyle outside of the public glare.