Dona Bertarelli Net Worth

What is Dona Bertarelli's net worth?

Dona Bertarelli is a Swiss businesswoman, investor, philanthropist, and record-setting sailor who has a net worth of $8 billion. Dona Bertarelli became one of Europe's wealthiest women through her family's long ownership of the biotechnology giant Serono. Known for her leadership in business development, global philanthropy, and high-profile competitive sailing achievements, she has spent the past several decades shaping ventures that span wellness brands, conservation programs, scientific research, and elite ocean racing. After playing a key strategic role in Serono during its transformation into a global biotechnology force, she shifted her focus to entrepreneurship and large-scale philanthropy following the company's multibillion-dollar sale to Merck KGaA. Alongside her brother Ernesto, she co-founded and guides the Bertarelli Foundation, which has become a major supporter of neuroscience, ocean conservation, and marine protected areas around the world. Bertarelli has also become a celebrated figure in offshore sailing, setting speed records and earning recognition as one of the fastest women to sail around the world. Her blend of business acumen, philanthropic vision, and world-class athletic achievement has made her a uniquely influential figure within European industry and global conservation efforts.

Early Life

Dona Bertarelli was born into the family that controlled Serono, the biotechnology company founded by her grandfather in the early twentieth century. She was raised between Switzerland and Italy in a family environment deeply rooted in scientific research, pharmaceutical development, and international business. Bertarelli studied in Switzerland and the United States, ultimately earning a degree in business that prepared her to take on strategic roles within the family enterprise. Growing up within a company that combined science, entrepreneurship, and global expansion heavily shaped her approach to future business ventures and philanthropy.

Serono and Early Business Roles

Bertarelli joined Serono during a period of rapid growth as the company expanded into biotechnology and reproductive medicine. She worked in marketing, corporate development, and strategic planning while her brother, Ernesto Bertarelli, served in senior leadership. Together, they helped reposition Serono as an innovation-driven biotechnology group focused on emerging therapies in neurology, immunology, and fertility. Their efforts strengthened Serono's competitive position and contributed to its rising valuation.

In 2006, the Bertarelli family sold Serono to Merck KGaA for roughly $13 billion. The sale instantly made Dona one of the richest women in Europe and allowed her to shift her focus from corporate leadership to a blend of entrepreneurial projects and large-scale philanthropic initiatives.

Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures

Following the sale of Serono, Bertarelli launched several ventures centered around wellness, hospitality, and lifestyle. She became the driving force behind products and initiatives designed to promote health and personal well-being, drawing on her family's life sciences background. Her business interests expanded internationally through investments made via the Bertarelli family office platforms, which later evolved into B Flexion under Ernesto's leadership.

Bertarelli has also been active in entrepreneurial philanthropy, frequently supporting or incubating projects with both commercial and mission-driven components. Her business activities remain global in scale and often intersect with scientific research, ocean sustainability, and community development.

Philanthropy

Philanthropy is central to Bertarelli's public identity. Alongside her brother, she co-chairs the Bertarelli Foundation, one of Europe's most significant family-run foundations. The foundation supports neuroscience and brain research, ocean conservation, and marine resource protection. It has funded multimillion-dollar research partnerships with Harvard Medical School, EPFL, and numerous conservation organizations.

One of the foundation's hallmark initiatives has been its work with governments and NGOs to establish large marine protected areas, particularly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These initiatives have helped safeguard vast ocean regions, strengthen local economies through sustainable fishing models, and support global biodiversity. Bertarelli has also supported youth sailing programs, community health projects, and initiatives aimed at expanding scientific education and research capacity.

(Photo by Chris Ison/PA Images via Getty Images)

Sailing Career

Bertarelli is one of the most accomplished female sailors in the world. She joined the multihull racing team Spindrift, co-led with her partner Yann Guichard, and quickly became an influential figure in offshore and around-the-world competitive sailing. In 2010, she was part of a crew that set a new speed record during the Bol d'Or Mirabaud, one of Europe's most prestigious lake races. She later became the fastest woman to sail around the world after taking part in an around-the-globe attempt known for extreme endurance and technical precision.

Spindrift Racing has competed in major international events, including attempts at the Jules Verne Trophy, which honors the fastest circumnavigation of the planet by sail. Bertarelli's participation in these high-performance multihull campaigns has made her a respected figure within the global sailing community and one of the most prominent women in ocean racing history.

Real Estate

The Bertarelli family controls an extensive real estate portfolio in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. Dona has maintained residences in Switzerland, including properties near Lake Geneva, and has been involved in estate development and renovation projects tied to her philanthropic and conservation work. Many of the family's holdings are owned through private entities related to their investment platforms and foundation activities, and specific transaction prices have not always been publicly disclosed.

Personal Life

Bertarelli was previously married to businessman Yann Guichard, with whom she shares a deep professional partnership through their sailing team. She is a mother and has balanced family life with her commitments in philanthropy and competitive sailing. Her interests span ocean exploration, education, neuroscience, environmental protection, and international cultural initiatives. Between her business record, foundation leadership, and athletic accomplishments, she remains a major public figure in European philanthropy and global ocean conservation.

Who's Richer?

Dona
Bertarelli

Compare!

Ernesto
Bertarelli