Ernesto Bertarelli

Ernesto Bertarelli
Born	Ernesto Silvio Maurizio Bertarelli (1965-09-22) September 22, 1965 Rome, Italy
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Years active	1996–present
Known for	CEO of Serono, founder of Team Alinghi, philanthropy

Ernesto Silvio Maurizio Bertarelli (born 22 September 1965) is a Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist of Italian origin, recognized as a billionaire.

In the 2017 Sunday Times Rich List, the family's fortune was appraised at £11.5 billion, reflecting an increase of £1.72 billion compared to the previous year. The Swiss publication Bilanz placed their wealth at CHF13.5 billion. As of April 2021, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index reported that Bertarelli and his family possessed a net worth of $20.2 billion.

Biography

Originally from Rome, he was born to Italian parents before the family moved to Switzerland in 1977. He completed his undergraduate studies at Babson College in 1989 and obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1993.

Career

His grandfather Pietro became involved with Serono, a pharmaceutical firm established in 1906. Pietro assumed the role of managing director in 1935, later succeeded by his son Fabio Bertarelli in 1965. Ernesto Bertarelli took on the CEO position in 1996 and, along with his sister Dona, inherited the company ownership in 1998. Under their leadership, the business transitioned from traditional pharmaceuticals toward biotechnology, with revenues expanding from $809 million in 1996 to $2.8 billion by 2006. The company earned acclaim for developing a natural hormone treatment addressing female infertility, alongside therapies targeting multiple sclerosis and growth hormone deficiency.

In January 2007, the Bertarelli family sold Serono to Merck KGaA for US$13.3 billion, creating Merck-Serono. The family's estimated $9 billion share was predominantly reinvested via B-Flexion (previously Waypoint Capital). Together with his sister, Bertarelli co-leads the Bertarelli Foundation, which concentrates on marine conservation initiatives and neuroscience research.

B-Flexion

Between 2002 and 2009, Bertarelli held a board position at UBS AG. The family’s assets are managed through B-Flexion, which invests across sectors including real estate, technology, hedge funds, and life sciences.

Among its principal investments are Kedge Capital (specializing in hedge funds and private equity), Crosstree—a UK-based real estate fund—and Gurnet Point Capital located in Boston, focusing on healthcare and life sciences.

Operating from its headquarters in Geneva with additional offices in London, Jersey, Boston, and Dublin, B-Flexion also oversees direct holdings such as Stallergenes-Greer, a company specializing in allergy immunotherapy, Corium Pharma Solutions (focused on contract development and manufacturing), as well as asset management firms including Longview and Capital Four.

Campus Biotech

On 22 May 2013, a consortium spearheaded by the Bertarelli family, together with Hansjörg Wyss, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and the University of Geneva, acquired the former Merck Serono facility in Geneva. This followed Merck’s announcement in April 2012 to shut down its Geneva headquarters. The site was rebranded as Campus Biotech and developed into a premier hub for healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences. EPFL and the University of Geneva jointly occupy around 15,000m2 within the complex. In October 2013, Campus Biotech was officially designated as the central location for a new Swiss neuroscience cluster, accommodating research teams from the Human Brain Project, Blue Brain Project, and scientists from the Center for Neuroprosthetics who relocated there in 2014.

Sailing

Bertarelli’s passion for sailing originates from his upbringing in Monte Argentario. In 2000, he established the yachting team Team Alinghi, which captured the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2003 before triumphing over Team New Zealand in Auckland to claim the 2003 America's Cup. This victory marked the first occasion a team won on its debut attempt and brought the Cup to Europe for the first time. Team Alinghi enlisted international talent including skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth. Bertarelli took on the role of navigator during the 2003 campaign and served as grinder in 2007 when Alinghi successfully defended its title in Valencia with a 5–2 series win.

In recognition of his sailing accomplishments, Bertarelli was honored with the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by French President Jacques Chirac and received the Cavaliere di Gran Croce from Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

After their 2007 defense, Société Nautique de Genève and Bertarelli encountered legal disputes initiated by the Golden Gate Yacht Club concerning the organization of the 33rd America's Cup. The competition took place in February 2010 in Valencia, where Bertarelli skippered Alinghi 5 but suffered a decisive defeat against challenger USA 17.

Currently, Alinghi competes in the Extreme Sailing Series, with their latest victory recorded in 2016, and also participates in the D35 championship held on Lake Geneva. Since 2016, Bertarelli has been inducted into the prestigious America's Cup Hall of Fame.

Philanthropy

In 1999, Bertarelli and his family established a charitable foundation dedicated to advancing research and development in areas such as male and female infertility, assisted reproductive technologies, and related disciplines including andrology, genetics, and endocrinology. Initially headquartered in Trelex, Switzerland, the Bertarelli Foundation merged into Foundation FABER based in Lausanne in 2006. From 2008 onward, this rejuvenated foundation has unified the family’s philanthropic efforts spanning charity work, healthcare, scientific research, sports, and cultural initiatives.

Among its significant projects are funding for EPFL’s Neuroprosthetics Centre in Lausanne; collaboration with the British government to create one of the world’s largest marine protected areas in the Indian Ocean’s Chagos Archipelago; a joint neuroscience research and educational partnership between Harvard Medical School and EPFL; Swiss Sailing Grants administered alongside the Swiss Sailing Federation; as well as educational programs like South Africa’s Henna Pre-School and a partnership with Stoke-on-Trent YMCA led by Kirsty Bertarelli.

Bertarelli is also a member of Harvard Medical School’s Board of Fellows. In 2023, he committed $75 million to Harvard Medical School to support scientific innovation and promote entrepreneurship.

Honorary doctorate

In 2013, Plymouth University conferred upon Bertarelli an Honorary Doctorate in Marine Sciences.

Personal life

Bertarelli encountered Kirsty Roper, a songwriter and former 1988 Miss UK, while vacationing in Italy in 1997. They wed in 2000 and became parents to three children. Their separation was made public in October 2021. The family lived in Gstaad and also owned a property by Lake Geneva.

In December 2008, the hull of Bertarelli's yacht Project55 was launched by Appledore Shipbuilders; the vessel was finalized as Vava II by Devonport Engineering Consortium Ltd in Plymouth, with completion achieved in February 2012.

Honour

• : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (11 April 2003)

See also

• Lists of billionaires

External links

• Bertarelli Foundation
• Bertarelli Family