Net worth
$46.2B
Forbes Real-Time · as of Sep 24, 2026
Latest moves
No moves from Rafaela Aponte-Diamant in the digest yet. The archive grows every morning.
Recent SEC filings
This person doesn't file with the SEC.
Footprint
Companies
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC Group), GenevaCo-founder · Forbes: 50%; but MSC says… · as of Forbes 2026-09-24 / MSC announcement 2026-04-13
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- Role
- Co-founder (1970) with husband Gianluigi; Forbes says she is responsible for decorating MSC Cruises ships (MSC's second vessel was named Rafaela)
- Stake
- Forbes: 50%; but MSC says ownership passed to the couple's children in Q4 2025
- Stake as of
- Forbes 2026-09-24 / MSC announcement 2026-04-13
MSC ownership transfer to next generationAponte family completed transfer of… · as of Apr 2026
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- Role
- Aponte family completed transfer of MSC ownership to Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte Vago (Q4 2025); announcements did not detail Rafaela's stake
- Stake as of
- 2026-04-13
MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) and Explora Journeys (luxury line; Explora III delivered July 2026)MSC Group cruise division · 100%
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- Role
- MSC Group cruise division
- Stake
- 100% (MSC Group)
Terminal Investment Limited (TiL)MSC's port-terminal arm · 70% · as of 2025
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- Role
- MSC's port-terminal arm (~45 terminals)
- Stake
- 70% MSC, 20% Global Infrastructure Partners, 10% GIC
- Stake as of
- 2025
Medlog (inland logistics) incl. UK haulier Maritime Transport (bought Sept 2024)MSC Group subsidiary · 100%
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- Role
- MSC Group subsidiary
- Stake
- 100% (MSC Group)
AGL (ex-Bolloré Africa Logistics)MSC Group subsidiary · 100% · as of Dec 2022
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- Role
- MSC Group subsidiary; acquisition completed Dec 2022 (~$6bn per Forbes)
- Stake
- 100% (MSC Group)
- Stake as of
- 2022-12
Wilson Sons (Brazil port/maritime logistics)B3 (Brazil) · MSC-controlled · 56.47% · as of Oct 2024
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- Exchange
- B3 (Brazil)
- Role
- MSC-controlled; agreed Oct 2024 (~$768m)
- Stake
- 56.47% (MSC)
- Stake as of
- 2024-10
Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) and SNAV ferriesMSC Group ferry subsidiaries
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- Role
- MSC Group ferry subsidiaries (SNAV acquired 1995; GNV stake from 2010)
Gram Car Carriers (Norway, car carriers)Acquired by MSC for ~$698m · 100% · as of Jul 2024
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- Role
- Acquired by MSC for ~$698m (completed July 2024)
- Stake
- 100% (MSC)
- Stake as of
- 2024-07
MSC Air Cargo (Italian AOC; seven Boeing 777F freighters as of March 2026)MSC Group cargo airline · 100% · as of Mar 2026
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- Role
- MSC Group cargo airline
- Stake
- 100% (MSC Group)
- Stake as of
- 2026-03
Stakes
HHLA (Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG) - MSC completed Hamburg port investment; City of Hamburg keeps majority49.9% · as of Nov 2024
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- Stake
- 49.9% (MSC, per Wikipedia)
- Stake as of
- 2024-11
Italo - Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (Italian high-speed rail), co-owned with Global Infrastructure Partners50% · as of Oct 2023
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- Stake
- 50% (MSC)
- Stake as of
- 2023-10
Clasquin Group (Lyon freight forwarder), via SAS Shipping Agencies Services42% · as of Mar 2024
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- Stake
- 42% agreed (initial block)
- Stake as of
- 2024-03
Boluda Towage (Spain) - via contribution of MSC's MedTug49% · as of Feb 2025
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- Stake
- 49% agreed (MSC)
- Stake as of
- 2025-02
Investment vehicles
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (Geneva) / MSC Groupholding co
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- Type
- holding co
- Notes
- Privately held group parent; ownership transferred to the founders' children Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte Vago in Q4 2025 (announced 2026-04-13). No EDGAR CIK found.
SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sarlholding co
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- Type
- holding co
- Notes
- MSC investment subsidiary used for acquisitions (e.g. Clasquin)
Terminal Investment Limited (TiL)holding co
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- Type
- holding co
- Notes
- Ports investment vehicle 70% MSC / 20% GIP / 10% GIC; party to BlackRock-TiL consortium for Hutchison ports
Blue Media Srlholding co
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- Type
- holding co
- Notes
- MSC-controlled company that owns Genoa daily Il Secolo XIX
Private deals
BlackRock-GIP-TiL consortium agreed in principle to buy 80% of CK Hutchison's ports business (43 ports, 23 countries…Mar 2025
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- In full
- BlackRock-GIP-TiL consortium agreed in principle to buy 80% of CK Hutchison's ports business (43 ports, 23 countries; EV US$22.8bn) plus 90% of Panama Ports Co.; deal postponed amid Chinese regulatory scrutiny
- Date
- 2025-03-04
MSC Cruises ordered four 'New Frontier' ships (+2 options, ~180,000 GT) from Meyer Werft, deliveries from 2030Dec 2025
source ↗MSC Cruises ordered World Class 7 and 8 from Chantiers de l'Atlantique for EUR3.5bn (deliveries 2030-31)Nov 2025
source ↗MSC agreed to take 49% of Spain's Boluda Towage via contribution of MedTugFeb 2025
source ↗MSC agreed to acquire 56.47% of Brazil's Wilson Sons (~$768m)Oct 2024
source ↗Blue Media (MSC) acquired Genoa newspaper Il Secolo XIXSep 2024
source ↗Trophies
Il Secolo XIX (Genoa daily newspaper, founded 1886) owned via MSC's Blue Media Srl since Sept 2024
source ↗Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas - private island held by MSC Cruises on a 100-year lease signed Dec 2015…
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- In full
- Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas - private island held by MSC Cruises on a 100-year lease signed Dec 2015 (company asset)
Legal & regulatory
Panama canal ports: after Panama's Supreme Court voided CK Hutchison's Balboa and Cristobal concession (Jan 29, 2026)…
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- In full
- Panama canal ports: after Panama's Supreme Court voided CK Hutchison's Balboa and Cristobal concession (Jan 29, 2026), interim operations passed to MSC and APM Terminals (Maersk); per FT (Apr 2026) China's NDRC demanded MSC and Maersk withdraw; CK Hutchison started international arbitration against Panama seeking >US$1.5bn (Aug 20, 2026)
MSC Elsa 3 capsized off Kochi, Kerala (May 25, 2025) with 640+ containers incl. hazardous cargo; Kerala declared a…
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- In full
- MSC Elsa 3 capsized off Kochi, Kerala (May 25, 2025) with 640+ containers incl. hazardous cargo; Kerala declared a state disaster, coastal police registered a criminal case (FIR) against the master and crew; plastic-pellet pollution still found in 2026
MSC Gayane seized by U.S. CBP after ~20 tons of cocaine found in 2019 Philadelphia seizure; MSC denied intentional…
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- In full
- MSC Gayane seized by U.S. CBP after ~20 tons of cocaine found in 2019 Philadelphia seizure; MSC denied intentional involvement (older, 2019)
Giving
MSC Foundation (Geneva; MSC Group foundation chaired by Gianluigi Aponte)
source ↗Research gaps: Rafaela's own post-Q4-2025 stake is unclear: Forbes still lists her with 50% of MSC, but MSC's April 2026 handover announcement (not mentioning her) says ownership passed to her children. Her individual role is thinly documented (Forbes: decorates MSC Cruises ships). MSC facts are shared with Gianluigi Aponte's profile. No SEC CIK, no verified personal real estate or separate foundation. Trade press and Reuters blocked; several facts via Wikipedia. Web search budget ran out.
What to watch
Fate of the BlackRock-GIP-TiL purchase of CK Hutchison's ports (postponed; Chinese regulatory review)
source ↗Panama re-tender of Balboa/Cristobal concessions currently run on an interim basis by MSC and APM Terminals; CK…
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- In full
- Panama re-tender of Balboa/Cristobal concessions currently run on an interim basis by MSC and APM Terminals; CK Hutchison arbitration vs Panama (filed Aug 20, 2026)
Post-handover MSC governance: ownership now with Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte Vago - watch whether Forbes/Bloomberg…
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- In full
- Post-handover MSC governance: ownership now with Diego Aponte and Alexa Aponte Vago - watch whether Forbes/Bloomberg re-attribute the MSC fortune
MSC Cruises / Explora fleet growth (Explora IV and V due 2027)2027
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