Michele Ferrero

ABOUT MICHELE FERRERO

Notable for heading Europe's Ferrero Spa candy company, he is most well known for his role in creating the popular Nutella product. In addition to Nutella, his company produces the Ferrero Rocher, Mon Cheri, Kinder Eggs Kinder Chocolate, and Tic Tacs candy varieties.

He became involved in his family's candy business in the late 1940s.

A devout Roman Catholic, he made annual pilgrimages to a shrine and erected statues of the Virgin Mary in all of the factory buildings he owned.

The child of Piera Rocher and Ferrero confectionary founder Pietro Ferrero, he grew up in Dogliani, Italy. His marriage to Maria Franca Fissol resulted in sons named Giovanni Ferrero and Pietro Ferrero, Jr.

In early 2008, Ferrero -- then worth twenty-six billion dollars-- stole the "Italy's Richest Person" designation from Finivest CEO-turned-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi .