John Elkann, born on April 1, 1976 (48 years old) in New York, United States, is a businessman and CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by the Agnelli family, which among other things invests in Ferrari and the Stellantis Group. Although he carries his father’s last name, his Italian family descends from the Agnellis, deeply rooted in the automotive industry and the business world.
Elkann is CEO of Exor and also chairman of the Stellantis Group, focused on the Fiat brand. Gianni Agnelli, who was his grandfather, had two children, including Edoardo and Margherita, and among those grandchildren is John, who was born in New York but holds Italian nationality.
John Elkann’s early years
Belonging to a high-society family, he was never fully settled in one place during primary and secondary school. His early school years were in Great Britain and Brazil, although he later moved to Paris with his family. In France, he completed scientific baccalaureate studies and graduated from school there.
And to finish his studies, after France, he landed in Turin, Italy to study Engineering in Management. By that time, he already spoke three languages: English, French and Italian. It didn’t end there, as university internships allowed him to work around the world.
Poland, Lille, Birmingham—some of the places he worked—until, due to family matters, he became one more Agnelli and started working in the automotive industry. At age 21, he began working for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which today is part of the Stellantis Group, chaired by John.
With the passing of Gianni Agnelli, Elkann’s grandfather, the engineer officially entered the family business. In fact, his grandfather had originally prepared his brother, but his early death put the family—and especially John—in a difficult position, and he had to take the reins at Gianni’s request.
In 2003, at age 22, Elkann became the heir to the throne—or better said, one of the heirs. That year, he became vice president of Fiat, a position he held for several years until he was appointed chairman in 2010.
Ferrari, Juventus, and Fiat’s golden years
Exor Group, controlled by the Agnelli family, counts among its acquisitions Juventus, one of Italy’s most popular soccer teams, and Ferrari, one of the world’s most important and well-known car manufacturers. Today, John is CEO of the red team and has been involved in the football club.
In 2006, Juventus was relegated to the second division for a corruption case, and Elkann took charge of the matter, removing several individuals involved and proposing a new board of directors with the help of his cousin Andrea Agnelli.
As for Fiat, the Chrysler Automobile merger not only increased the company’s automotive assets but also benefited the Exor Group, led by the Agnelli family, which includes the Stellantis Group, associated with Fiat.
As chairman of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in 2013 he also had a notable impact on the market after the company entered the New York Stock Exchange. All the movements linked to football, the automotive industry, and the business world are interconnected by a family that dominates the market.
Other positions
Chairman of Stellantis Group, CEO of Ferrari, CEO of Exor, and chairman of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: in addition to these roles—which are far from minor and represent a high status—John Elkann also holds other functions.
He is chairman of the Agnelli Foundation, as well as of Gedi Group, a media company that includes Italy’s most recognized newspapers and magazines such as La Stampa, La Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera, etc.
Focused on science and technology, he participates in Google events and scientific fairs to promote large-scale projects and events. He is also strongly involved with education and visits places to promote scientific education centers.
In recent years, the Italian president honored John Elkann for his work in the automotive industry. Ferrari, Fiat, Stellantis Group—some of the major roles held by Gianni Agnelli’s grandson, who had to take charge of the family business unexpectedly.
The Agnelli family has many prominent names and has kept the business alive for decades. Despite the conflict with his mother, John has always stayed true to his convictions—from stepping up during hard times at Juventus to presenting overwhelming profits at Fiat.
The story of John Elkann is interesting, with a surname that is not Agnelli because it comes from his mother Margherita’s husband, Gianni Agnelli’s daughter.