Gianluigi Aponte, founder of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and one of the world’s most influential maritime tycoons, was born on this day in 1940 in the coastal town of Sant’Agnello, near Sorrento. From modest beginnings in southern Italy, Aponte has built a global shipping empire that now dominates the container and cruise industries.
Raised in a family with maritime roots dating back to the 17th century, Aponte studied at the Nautical Institute in Naples. He began his career as a sea captain for the Lauro Line. It was during one of his voyages that he met his future wife, Rafaela Diamant, a passenger onboard. Their partnership, both personal and professional, would prove pivotal in the decades to come.
In 1970, Aponte and Rafaela founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company with the purchase of a single cargo vessel named Patricia, funded through a loan. Over the next decade, MSC steadily expanded, operating 20 cargo ships by the end of the 1980s. Recognising the potential of the container industry, Aponte shifted focus to container shipping, positioning MSC to compete with the sector’s biggest players.
From containers to cruises
A major milestone came in 1987, when the Apontes entered the cruise business by acquiring the struggling Starlauro cruise line. In 1995, it was rebranded as MSC Cruises, which has since become one of the world’s largest privately owned cruise companies. Today, MSC Cruises operates a fleet of more than a dozen ships. It continues to invest in new vessels, including several powered by liquefied natural gas.
MSC now ranks among the top global shipping companies, owning and operating over 800 container vessels and serving more than 500 ports across six continents. The group employs around 200,000 people worldwide. In 2022, MSC overtook Maersk as the world’s largest container shipping company by capacity, a remarkable feat for a business that started with one second-hand ship.
Aponte has received numerous accolades for his achievements. In 2009, he was honoured with the “Neapolitan Excellence in the World” award. In 2012 and 2013, he received lifetime achievement awards for his contributions to both the cruise and container industries. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano awarded him the Order of Merit for Labour, in recognition of his entrepreneurial success.
In 2014, Aponte handed over executive control of the company to his son, Diego Aponte, who now serves as president and CEO. His daughter, Alexa, holds the position of Chief Financial Officer. Aponte remains actively involved as Executive Chairman, ensuring MSC remains a family-led enterprise.
MSC expanded into rail and port operations
Beyond shipping, MSC has expanded into port operations, rail transport and logistics. In recent years, the company acquired a 50% stake in Italy’s high-speed train operator Italo. It has also shown interest in media, purchasing the newspaper Il Secolo XIX. Its diversification reflects Aponte’s strategic vision and long-term approach to business.
Despite his vast success and estimated personal fortune of over $30 billion, Aponte has maintained a low profile. He lives in Geneva and is rarely seen at public events, preferring to focus on business and family.
