8Emmanuel Besnier – Net worth – $7.5 billion
The 43-year-old billionaire has been often called the ‘French Howard Hughes’ or ‘the Emperor of Cheese’.
And he owes it to the family holding company, Lactalis.
His net worth has increased with more than $3 billion in the past year, thanks to the value of cheese giant Parmalat.
Emmanuel Besnier, his brother Jean-Michel and sister Marie Besnier Beauvalot own 82.4% of Parmalat, whose shares gained more than 40% last year.
Also, they continue to grow Lactalis, which they inherited from their father.
In early 2014, they closed a deal and acquire a 70% stake in an Indian dairy group.
