James Leprino
James Gerald Leprino | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 November 1937 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | 19 June 2025 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Leprino Foods, largest mozzarella cheese producer globally |
James Gerald Leprino (November 22, 1937 – June 19, 2025) was a prominent American billionaire entrepreneur and the chairman of Leprino Foods, recognized as the largest mozzarella cheese producer globally, commanding up to 85% of the pizza cheese sector in the United States. He was ranked as the 264th wealthiest individual in America with a net worth of $3.1 billion according to the 2017 Forbes 400 list. Forbes referred to him as the "Willy Wonka of cheese."
Early life
Leprino was born in Denver, Colorado as the youngest among five brothers. His father, Mike Leprino Sr., an Italian immigrant who arrived in 1914, established the grocery business Leprino & Sons in Denver’s Little Italy neighborhood in 1950. The family initially specialized in handcrafted ricotta, ravioli, and scamorza mozzarella.
Career
Following his graduation from high school in 1956, James Leprino joined his father’s enterprise until its closure in 1958 due to competition from larger grocery retailers. Recognizing a growing demand for cheese at local pizzerias, he launched Leprino Foods with an initial investment of $615, concentrating on producing pizza cheese just as chains like Pizza Hut and Little Caesars were emerging.
Leprino Foods expanded swiftly alongside the burgeoning pizza industry in the U.S. When Pizza Hut grew its presence in 1968, Leprino devised a technique to substitute on-site cheese shredding with frozen cheese sheets, thereby cutting labor and expenses. Under James Leprino’s leadership as CEO and Chairman, the firm became the world’s foremost mozzarella manufacturer, supplying major pizza chains such as Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Little Caesars, holding a dominant share of up to 85% in the American pizza cheese market.
The company pioneered innovations tailored for mass pizza production by introducing spray-on additives that altered cheese performance during baking, allowing differentiation among various chains’ products. They reduced mozzarella aging time from two weeks to four hours, created a "preservative mist," and engineered cheese capable of being baked directly from frozen. Leprino credited cheesemaker Lester Kielsmeier for spearheading more than a dozen patents at Leprino Foods, stating, "Lester is the man that made me rich."
In October 2017, Forbes valued James Leprino’s fortune at $3.1 billion. In 2022, two nieces owning a combined 25% stake filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination against minority shareholders concerning profitability and management practices. They sought dissolution of Leprino Foods along with asset division; however, a Colorado court prevented dismantling of the company but permitted claims regarding unfair treatment to proceed.
Personal life and death
Leprino resided in Indian Hills, Colorado with his wife and two children. Known for maintaining privacy, he seldom interacted with the press.
He passed away on June 19, 2025, at age 87. Details surrounding his death location and cause were not made public.
Political lobbying and support
From 1990 through 2017, Leprino Foods invested $1.52 million in political lobbying efforts, with approximately 75–80% of donations directed toward the Republican Party.