James Leprino died: American billionaire and businessman James Leprino died on June 19, 2025, at the age of 87 on Thursday.
He served as chairman of Leprino Foods, the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella cheese, and its headquarters is in Denver, Colorado. According to the 2017 list, he was the 264th richest person in the U.S. in the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of $3.1 billion.
His company was founded by James Leprino’s father, Mike Leprino, in 1950, and in 2014, there were 4,000+ employees working in Leprino Foods.
He completed his graduation from high school in 1956, then began working full-time with his father.
His father’s store closed in 1958 due to pressure from large grocery chains, then he started Leprino Foods with $615. Day by day, Leprino Foods performed better.
His son, James Leprino, was the chairman and CEO of Leprino Foods, and in October 2017, his net worth was US$3.1 billion.
He was a married man and his wife is Donna. He had two children (daughters) named Gina and Terry.
“He had a profound influence on countless lives.
He had a generous heart and a deep commitment to giving back. He never forgot the community that stood behind his family’s business through the years, and he gave freely to causes that helped others. He cared deeply about people’s well-being and was especially passionate about supporting medical and healthcare advancements that could make life better for future generations,” his company said in its statement.
