Who is Rafaela Aponte-Diamant?
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant is the co-founder of MSC, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, and the Swiss-based half-owner of the world’s largest container shipping line. Forbes’ real-time list valued her at $46.85 billion on 20 October 2026, 40th in the world and tied with her husband Gianluigi Aponte 12. Forbes ME called her the world’s richest self-made woman in July 2023 3.
How did Rafaela Aponte-Diamant make her money?
She co-founded MSC with her husband in 1970, and Forbes says the two of them each own 50% of it. MSC began with one second-hand cargo ship, the Patricia, and grew into the world’s largest container line and a major cruise operator. A second early vessel was named Rafaela 124.
Early life
Rafaela Diamant was born on 26 March 1945 and has Swiss and Italian roots. Her father was an Israeli banker based in Switzerland, according to Forbes Brasil, and she holds Italian citizenship. She met Gianluigi when she was a passenger on his boat on a trip to Capri in the 1960s, and the couple moved to Geneva 356.
Role at MSC
She has served as a leading figure in the company’s early growth and designs the interiors of MSC Cruises ships. In April 2026 MSC announced that ownership had passed from the founders to their children Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte Vago 27. Read Rafaela Aponte-Diamant’s companies.
Family
She and Gianluigi have two children, Diego and Alexa, who work at MSC as president and CEO and chief financial officer. The family is based in Geneva 68.
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant net worth
Forbes valued her at $46.85 billion on 20 October 2026, about ₹4.4 lakh crore at ₹94 to the dollar, up from $44.5 billion on its March list and $33 billion in December 2024 123. See Rafaela Aponte-Diamant net worth and our ranking of the wealthiest women in the world.