James Leprino Net Worth 2024

James Leprino (born 1937/1938) is an American billionaire, businessman, and chairman of Leprino Foods, the world's largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese.^[2][3] He was listed as the 264th richest person in the US with a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to the 2017 Forbes 400 list.^[4] Forbes' Chloe Sorvino nicknamed him the "Willy Wonka of cheese".^[1]

James Leprino was born circa 1938.^[3] He is the youngest of five children of Mike Leprino Sr., who emigrated from Italy in 1914, aged 16, settled in Denver, and was a farm worker before starting a grocery store in Denver's Little Italy in 1950.^[5][1]

After graduating from high school in 1956, he worked full-time with his father, but due to pressure from large grocery chains, his father's store closed in 1958, so he started Leprino Foods with $615, focusing on making cheese for pizza, sales of which were booming.^[1]

Leprino is the chairman and CEO of Leprino Foods, the largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese in the world. In October 2017, his net worth was estimated by Forbes at US$3.1 billion.^[3]

He supplies major pizza chains including Pizza Hut, Domino's, Papa John's and Little Caesars, and controls up to 85% of the US pizza cheese market.^[1]

In 2022, his two nieces, who hold a 25% stake in Leprino Foods, filed a lawsuit claiming they, as minority shareholders, were disfavored in terms of profitability and global management.^[6] The nieces requested Leprino Foods be dissolved and its assets to be distributed among all shareholders. A Colorado judge ruled out dismantlement of the company, but their claims of inequitable treatment could go forward.^[7]

Leprino is married with two children. He resides in Indian Hills, Colorado.^[3]

From 1990 to 2017, Leprino Foods contributed $1,521,894 to political lobbying, with 75 to 80 percent of Leprino's political contributions going to Republicans."^[8]