John Elkann

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John Elkann

John Elkann is an Italian industrialist and a leading member of the Agnelli family. He serves as chair and CEO of Exor, the Agnelli family’s holding company, and holds senior leadership roles across major automotive and industrial assets, including chairmanships at Stellantis and Ferrari. He played a central role in Fiat’s turnaround and in the strategic deals that reshaped the global auto industry.

Key points

  • Chair and CEO of Exor, the Agnelli family’s investment company.
  • Chair of Stellantis and Ferrari.
  • Joined Fiat’s board in 1997 and became Fiat chair in 2010.
  • Instrumental in Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler (2009) and the 2021 merger that created Stellantis.
  • Exor is the largest shareholder of Ferrari (about 22.9%) and has significant interests including Juventus FC.
  • Reported net worth in public listings has been in the low billions.

Early life and education

John Elkann was born in New York City in 1976 and grew up living in several countries, including the U.K., Brazil, France, and Italy. That international upbringing left him fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

He attended Lycée Victor Duruy in Paris and earned an engineering degree from Politecnico di Torino in 2001. During his studies he completed internships across the automotive supply chain—factory work, production lines, and dealership operations—which gave him hands-on exposure to manufacturing, marketing, and sales. He also worked with General Electric’s corporate initiatives group while researching e-auctions for his undergraduate thesis.

Career and notable accomplishments

Elkann joined Fiat’s board in 1997 at the encouragement of his grandfather, Gianni Agnelli. He rose through leadership positions as the family worked to stabilize and modernize its industrial holdings:

  • 2004: Became vice-chair of Fiat, helping guide the company through a reputation and quality turnaround.
  • 2009: Played a leading role in Fiat’s acquisition of Chrysler, a pivotal move that expanded Fiat’s footprint in North America.
  • 2010: Appointed chair of Fiat.
  • 2021: Instrumental in the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles with Groupe PSA, creating Stellantis—a large multinational automaker with an extensive brand portfolio and global presence.

As chair and CEO of Exor, Elkann oversees a diversified investment portfolio that includes stakes in automotive brands, sports (Juventus FC), and other industrial and financial companies. Exor is the largest single shareholder of Ferrari, owning roughly 22.9% of the company.

Other roles and influence

Beyond the auto industry, Elkann’s leadership at Exor gives him influence across sports, media, and investment circles tied to the Agnelli family’s legacy. Under his stewardship, the family’s holdings have been consolidated and repositioned to pursue scale and global reach.

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Bottom line

John Elkann has guided the Agnelli family’s transition from an Italian industrial dynasty to a modern, globally oriented investment group. Through leadership at Exor and key roles at Fiat, Stellantis, and Ferrari, he has shaped significant mergers and acquisitions that reconfigured the contemporary automotive landscape.