Italy's billionaires are changing their appearance: this is how cryptocurrencies have surpassed Nutella

The new ranking by Forbes indeed upends established balances: at the top is no longer the famous "king of chocolate," but the architect of a digital currency pegged to the dollar.

At the top of the podium is indeed Giancarlo Devasini, financial mind and co-founder of Tether, with an estimated net worth of 89 billion dollars, a staggering increase from 22.4 billion in December 2025. His fortune reflects an implicit valuation of the company around 200 billion, but the real engine is the record profits generated by interest on U.S. Treasury securities held as collateral for stablecoins. In 2025, Tether recorded over 10 billion dollars in profits, with exposure to Treasuries exceeding 140 billion and a "buffer" of excess reserves amounting to 6.3 billion. More than a crypto bet in the strict sense, it is a wealth from "money market" that intercepts high rates, acting as a bridge between traditional dollars and digital exchanges. However, there are shadows: the company relies on limited assurance attestations rather than full audits, remaining exposed to significant regulatory uncertainties in Europe and the United States. Devasini's personal stake, prudently estimated between 44% and 45%, is tied to private assets and thus subject to sudden changes in sentiment.

Sliding to second place is Giovanni Ferrero, a symbol of Italian food excellence. With a wealth of around 48.6 billion dollars estimated at the end of February 2026, his empire rests on industrial strength and historic global brands such as Nutella, Kinder, and Ferrero Rocher. Unlike Devasini's predominantly financial returns, the Ferrero group is based on a highly integrated value chain, from cocoa to packaging. While exposed to the physiological volatility of commodities and exchange rates, the giant ensures recurring cash generation that confirms the relevance of Italian family capitalism, capable of financing targeted acquisitions and preserving a solid European leadership.

The tricolor "third way" has the face of Andrea Pignataro, founder of ION Group, stable at the third rung with a wealth between 42 and 43 billion dollars. A former trader at Salomon Brothers, Pignataro has built a global conglomerate of financial software, risk management, and data away from the spotlight, incorporating over time crucial platforms for the markets such as Dealogic and Fidessa. His wealth is fueled by financial engineering, leveraged acquisitions, and a strong ability to generate cash, despite significant obstacles, including a tax dispute in Italy that was settled in 2025 with an agreement of 280 million euros.

Looking more broadly, by the end of 2025, Italy had 79 billionaires, supported by historic sectors such as fashion and luxury (dynasties like Prada and Armani) and pharmaceuticals, with a growing weight of technology and B2B services. Long-standing figures, such as the heirs Del Vecchio and Piero Ferrari, still hold top positions, testifying to an unyielding core. Yet the dominant trend of the last two years highlights how the strongest returns have shifted towards those who have been able to monetize liquid reserves and low-risk spreads, marking the distance between the concreteness of industry and the new, profitable intermediation of digital money.