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Giuliana Caprotti

Giuliana Caprotti

G. Caprotti
0.21% | + $2.58M
$1.22 B ₹ 11,100 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2872 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Giuliana Caprotti

Gender

Female

Age

81Y

Country

Italy

Born On

January, 1945

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Widowed

Children

1

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

No

Entrepreneur Type

Inherited

Primary Organization

Esselunga

Titles

Shareholder

Sources of Wealth

Esselunga

Industry

Retail, Food & Beverage

About Giuliana Caprotti


G iuliana Caprotti is an Italian heiress who, along with her children, inherited a significant stake in Esselunga, one of Italy's largest and most successful supermarket chains. She is the widow of the company's legendary and autocratic founder, Bernardo Caprotti, who built Esselunga into a retail giant with a reputation for high quality and operational excellence.

Upon her husband's death in 2016, a family dispute erupted over the control of his estate. Bernardo had left a controlling stake in the company to his second wife, Giuliana, and their daughter, Marina, largely cutting out the two children from his first marriage. Giuliana and her daughter, Marina, who now serves as the company's executive president, now control the highly profitable and privately held retail empire.

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Quick Reads


  • Widow of Bernardo Caprotti, the founder of the Italian supermarket giant Esselunga.
  • She and her daughter, Marina, inherited a controlling stake in the company.
  • Esselunga is one of the largest and most profitable supermarket chains in Italy.
  • Her inheritance was the subject of a major family legal battle.
  • Her daughter, Marina Caprotti, is now the head of the company.

Early Life and Background


Giuliana Albera Caprotti is an Italian billionaire heiress whose wealth stems from her inheritance in Esselunga S.p.A., one of Italy's largest grocery store chains. She is the widow of Bernardo Caprotti (d. 2016), the founder of Esselunga.

The company was founded in 1957 (with co-founders including Nelson Rockefeller) and grew into a dominant regional force, known for being the first supermarket chain in Italy to introduce on-line shopping and self-produced organic products. Upon her husband's death in 2016, he left 66.7 percent of Esselunga to his second wife, Giuliana, and their daughter, Marina Sylvia (now an Executive of Esselunga), ensuring their controlling ownership of the multi-billion euro empire.

Career Journey of Giuliana Caprotti


Giuliana Caprotti's career is defined by her role as a major shareholder and steward of the Esselunga fortune. The company's success is tied to its mastery of the discount retail model (its name literally means long S from the long checkout line, representing efficiency) and its high level of quality control in food production. Esselunga generates billions in annual revenue and employs over 23,000 people.

Her role is fiduciary, ensuring the family maintains control over the private company through Supermarkets Italiani S.p.A., the family holding company. She and her daughter, Marina Sylvia, guide the strategic direction, preserving the founder's commitment to innovation and quality. Her inheritance was the subject of a legal dispute with her husband's children from his first marriage, highlighting the complex governance challenges of dynastic wealth.

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Giuliana Caprotti's Timeline


1957:

Esselunga S.p.A. is founded by her husband, Bernardo Caprotti, and co-founders (Founding).

2016 (September 30):

Her husband, Bernardo Caprotti, passes away; Giuliana inherits her 66.7 percent controlling stake (Inheritance/Succession).

Ongoing:

Continues as a major owner, guiding the private management of the multi-billion euro retail empire (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Giuliana Caprotti's wealth is concentrated in her majority controlling stake in the private retail giant, Esselunga S.p.A.

  • Esselunga S.p.A. (Majority Owner): The core private asset, one of Italy's largest grocery store chains, known for pioneering online shopping and self-produced organic products. She inherited a 66.7 percent stake.
  • Retail Innovation: The company’s success is built on a focus on efficiency, product quality, and discount retail methods.
  • Family Governance: She and her daughter, Marina Sylvia, maintain controlling ownership of the private company.
  • Real Estate: The company owns numerous valuable properties across key Italian regions (Lombardy, Tuscany).

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Giuliana Caprotti's social impact is structural, stemming from Esselunga's role as a massive employer (over 23,000 employees) and foundational provider of essential food and consumer goods in Italy. The company's pioneering role in online shopping and organic product development modernized the Italian food retail sector.

Her personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives, reflecting the family's long-standing commitment to civic engagement in the Milan/Lombardy region.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Giuliana Caprotti maintains the professional, composed style of an Italian retail matriarch. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. Her aesthetic is one of stability and quiet, established authority, reflecting her mastery of the complex food retail market.

Residing in Lombardy, Italy, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion euro fortune. Her life is dedicated to the stewardship of her family's industrial legacy, rooted in the core sector of essential consumer staples.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • She inherited a 66.7 percent controlling stake in Esselunga, one of Italy's largest grocery store chains.
  • Her husband, Bernardo Caprotti, founded the company with co-founders, including Nelson Rockefeller.
  • Esselunga was the first supermarket chain in Italy to introduce on-line shopping.
  • The company's name, Esselunga, literally means long S (referring to the checkout line).
  • Her daughter, Marina Sylvia, is also an Executive of the company.
  • Her inheritance was the subject of a legal dispute with her stepchildren.
  • The company's stores were often designed by famous architects (e.g., Mario Botta).

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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