James Leprino (born 1937/38) is an American billionaire, businessman, and chairman of Leprino Foods, the world's largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese.[2][3] He was listed as the 264th richest person in the US with a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to the 2017 Forbes 400 list.[4] Forbes' Chloe Sorvino nicknamed him the "Willy Wonka of cheese".[1]
James Leprino | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1937 or 1938 (age 85–86)[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Chairman and CEO, Leprino Foods |
| Spouse | married |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Mike Leprino Sr. |
Early life edit
James Leprino was born circa 1938.[3] He is the youngest of five children of Mike Leprino Sr., who emigrated from Italy in 1914, aged 16, settled in Denver, and was a farm worker before starting a grocery store in Denver's Little Italy in 1950.[5][1]
Career edit
After graduating from high school in 1956, he worked full-time with his father, but due to pressure from large grocery chains, his father's store closed in 1958, so he started Leprino Foods with $615, focusing on making cheese for pizza, sales of which were booming.[1]
Leprino is the chairman and CEO of Leprino Foods, the largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese in the world. In October 2017, his net worth was estimated by Forbes at US$3.1 billion.[3]
He supplies major pizza chains including Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's and Little Caesars, and controls up to 85% of the US pizza cheese market.[1]
In 2022, his two nieces, who hold a 25% stake in Leprino Foods, filed a lawsuit claiming they, as minority shareholders, were disfavored in terms of profitability and global management.[6] The nieces requested Leprino Foods be dissolved and its assets to be distributed among all shareholders. A Colorado judge ruled out dismantlement of the company, but their claims of inequitable treatment could go forward.[7]
Personal life edit
Leprino is married with two children. He resides in Indian Hills, Colorado.[3]
Political lobbying and support edit
From 1990 to 2017, Leprino Foods contributed $1,521,894 to political lobbying, with 75 to 80 percent of Leprino's political contributions going to Republicans."[8]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Sorvino, Chloe (2017-05-23). "This Secretive Billionaire Makes the Cheese for Pizza Hut, Domino's and Papa John's". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
- ^ Proctor, Cathy; Sweeney, Patrick (2002-12-29). "Denver's big cheese". Denver Business Journal.
- ^ a b c d "James Leprino". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
- ^ "Leprino". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2017-10-21. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^ Knopf, Susan (2017-06-23). "Knopf: Why does Colorado make it so hard for immigrant to get drivers licenses? (column)". Summit Daily. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
- ^ Sorvino, Chloe (2022-10-05). "Family Feud Forces Reclusive Domino's Cheese Billionaire Into Court". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ Demetrakakes, Pan (2022-11-10). "Judge: Nieces of Leprino Foods Founder Can't Break Company Up". FoodProcessing.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ Njegomir, Dan (2017-05-25). "Colorado's most reclusive billionaire isn't shy about supporting the GOP". Colorado Politics. Retrieved 2017-05-26.
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