Elisabeth DeLuca is an American billionaire heiress whose fortune stems from the global fast-food giant, Subway, one of the largest restaurant chains in the world. She is the widow of Fred DeLuca (d. 2015), who famously co-founded the sandwich shop in 1965 at age 17 with a $1,000 loan from family friend Peter Buck, originally to fund Fred's college education to study medicine.

Elisabeth married Fred DeLuca in 1969 and was actively involved in the family business early on, even working in the corporate office. She inherited her husband's half of the restaurant chain when he died from leukemia in 2015. Her wealth is tied to the successful, massive expansion of the Subway franchise model (which grew to be the largest franchise in the world during Fred DeLuca's tenure), and she became the principal steward of the family's assets after his passing.

Elisabeth DeLuca's career is defined by the stewardship and monetization of the colossal Subway inheritance. After her husband's death, she and the Buck family (who owned the other half) managed the private company for nearly a decade. In 2024, she and the Buck family sold Subway to the private equity firm Roark Capital (owner of Dunkin' and Arby's) in a deal reported to be worth more than $9 billion.

This massive exit secured her fortune in liquid capital. Since inheriting the wealth, DeLuca has maintained a low profile but has become a major philanthropic player, overseeing two family charitable foundations with more than $1 billion of assets. Notably, she is part of a group of five billionaires who committed $500 million in 2024 to bankroll Arena BioWorks, a startup focused on quickly developing new drugs, showcasing a strategic pivot into high-impact medical research investment.

Elisabeth DeLuca's philanthropy is structural and focused on medical research and children's welfare. Her $500 million commitment to Arena BioWorks is a massive structural investment aimed at accelerating the development of life-saving therapeutics.

Her structural social impact is tied to Subway's role as a massive global employer and its pioneering role in the fast-food franchise model in the U.S. Her inherited wealth is now being strategically deployed for major advances in biotechnology and medicine.

Elisabeth DeLuca maintains a highly private and discreet style, despite the high-profile nature of her former company. Her attire is professional and unostentatious, reflecting her preference for privacy and focus on her philanthropic work. Her aesthetic is one of stability and low-profile wealth.

Residing in Pompano Beach, Florida, her luxury is the immense security and autonomy derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to leveraging her capital for high-impact medical research and preserving the integrity of her late husband's legacy.