G ianluigi Aponte is an Italian-Swiss self-made billionaire and the founder of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which he has built into the world's largest container shipping line. A former sea captain from the Naples region of Italy, he started his business in 1970 with a single, second-hand cargo ship. He has since built a colossal maritime empire.

Through decades of astute management and a sharp focus on organic growth, he expanded MSC's fleet to hundreds of vessels, surpassing its longtime rival Maersk to become the global leader in container shipping. The company remains privately held by the Aponte family, allowing for a long-term and often contrarian approach to the highly cyclical shipping industry. In addition to its core cargo business, the family also owns MSC Cruises, one of the world's largest cruise lines, as well as a significant port terminal and logistics business. The day-to-day leadership has now passed to his son, Diego, and his daughter, Alexa.