Ferrero vs Li Ka-shing

Ferrero Group and CK Hutchison Holdings.

The differences

Forbes puts Li Ka-shing about $0.7B ahead of Giovanni Ferrero.Forbes figures from 9 Oct 2026 and 12 Sep 2026.
Giovanni Ferrero: inherited and grew it. Li Ka-shing: founded it.
Li Ka-shing is about 36 years older than Giovanni Ferrero.
Giovanni Ferrero is from Italy; Li Ka-shing is from Hong Kong.

Put someone else on either side

Ferrero

Li Ka-shing

Net worth, Forbes: $48BForbes, 12 Sep 2026; $48.7BForbes, 9 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $57BBloomberg, 17 Oct 2026; $46.2BBloomberg, 12 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 40Real-Time list, 12 Sep 2026; No. 38Real-Time list, 9 Oct 2026
Billionaire since: 2018Forbes: first joined its World's Billionaires list in 2018, at $23 billion; 1987On Forbes' original 1987 international billionaires list, and on every list since

How it started: Inherited and grew itForbes: he inherited the family candy business, became its sole leader in 2015 and expanded it through acquisitions (Nestlé's US confectionery in 2018, WK Kellogg in 2025); Founded itStarted Cheung Kong Industries, a plastics maker, in 1950 at 21 with savings and loans from relatives; moved into property in 1960, listed Cheung Kong Holdings in 1972 and took control of Hutchison Whampoa in 1979
Main source: Ferrero Group (Nutella, Kinder, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac)Forbes source of wealth: 'Nutella, chocolates'; CK Hutchison and CK Asset stockBloomberg also names Cenovus Energy among the stakes that make up most of his wealth
Companies: Ferrero GroupFerrero Group: President of Ferrero Group and of Ferrero International S.A. (executive chairman); CK Hutchison Holdings, CK Asset HoldingsCK Hutchison Holdings: Senior advisor; CK Asset Holdings: Senior advisor
Biggest stake: Ferrero Group100% owned; CK Asset Holdings38% owned

Born: 1964Turin, Italy; 13 Jun 1928Chaozhou, Guangdong, China
Country: ItalyLives in Brussels, Belgium; Hong KongLives in Hong Kong
Education: Not statedStudied marketing at Lebanon Valley College (1980); honorary master's from the University of Parma (2015) and honorary doctorate from Lebanon Valley College (2022); No universityLeft high school; no university education
Parents: His father Michele Ferrero led the family confectionery company and created Nutella; his mother Maria Franca Ferrero chairs the Italian Ferrero Foundation; Born into a poor family that fled to Hong Kong in 1940; his father had been a primary-school principal

Giving Pledge: Not a signer; Not a signer
Foundation: Piera, Pietro and Giovanni Ferrero Foundation (Fondazione Ferrero)The family's foundation, chaired by his mother; not described as his personal giving vehicle; Li Ka Shing FoundationThe foundation says he has put in over HK$30 billion since 1980
Lifetime giving: Not stated; $3.8BForbes, 10 Mar 2026. Forbes: the Li Ka Shing Foundation 'has donated more than $3.8 billion', over 80% to Greater China

Role now: Runs the companyPresident (executive chairman) of Ferrero Group; RetiredSenior advisor to CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings
Successor: None namedLapo Civiletti became the first non-family CEO in 2017 and in 2026 moved to president of Ferrero Ice Cream and WK Kellogg Co; Alessandro Nervegna is CEO of Ferrero Core. No other family member holds an executive role in the cited materials; His elder son Victor Li succeeded him as chairman of CK Hutchison in May 2018 and also chairs CK Asset
Public office: None found; None found
Legal record: None found; None found