Ernesto Bertarelli
Source of wealth: Biotech, investments
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The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Ernesto Bertarelli's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Ernesto Bertarelli could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 5.2 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Ernesto Bertarelli could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 2.3 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Ernesto Bertarelli could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 3.4 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Ernesto Bertarelli could pay for it entirely for 4.6 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Ernesto Bertarelli could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 19.4 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Ernesto Bertarelli with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.4 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Ernesto Bertarelli's fortune is equivalent to 79 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Ernesto Bertarelli could buy 21,119,787 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 4 trucks to transport them. Although Ernesto Bertarelli will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Ernesto Bertarelli inherited biotech giant Serono, maker of the multiple sclerosis drug Rebif, following his father's death in 1998.
With his sister Dona, he expanded the company to $2.4 billion in revenues before selling it to Merck for over $13 billion in 2007.
Ernesto and Dona co-chair the Bertarelli Foundation, which focuses on marine conservation and life sciences research.
The family's B-Flexion Group has investments ranging from commercial real estate in London to drug companies.
He also owns the superyacht Vava II.
Financial Assets
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison