Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced on the 13th that ownership of the company has been transferred by founder Gianluigi Aponte to his children.

MSC stated that the ownership transition was completed in the fourth quarter of 2025, with ownership passing from the Group's founder, Captain Gianluigi Aponte, to his son Diego Aponte and daughter Alexa Aponte. Both are Italian nationals who grew up in Switzerland and currently reside there.

The Corporation believes that transferring ownership to the next generation will help ensure MSC's continued stability and growth.

Gianluigi Aponte said in a statement: “Passing ownership to my children is not only a reflection of their dedication and achievements, but also a continuation of our family’s centuries long maritime heritage. With Diego and Alexa at the helm, I am confident that our Group will continue to thrive and honour our family’s legacy of innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the sea.”

Gianluigi Aponte will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of the Group. MSC's core business—seaborne freight—remains unchanged. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Aponte's net worth stands at a minimum of US$37 billion.

He stated in a release: "“I am incredibly proud of this historic moment.”"

The Aponte family's maritime history dates back to 1675. Gianluigi Aponte was born near the Gulf of Naples, where his family had ferried goods and passengers in the region for generations. He trained as a ship captain and later operated ferries transporting wealthy tourists to resort islands such as Capri and Ischia. It was on one of these voyages that he met his future wife, Rafaela Diamant, the daughter of a Swiss banker.

In 1970, Aponte purchased an old German general cargo vessel, thereby founding MSC. The following year, he acquired a second ship and named it after his wife.

He soon began purchasing secondhand containerships—some even salvaged from scrapyards—in an effort to break into a shipping market dominated by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. MSC built its reputation on offering more competitive rates than its rivals, even if delivery times were sometimes slightly longer.

MSC currently operates 675 offices across 155 countries, with a fleet comprising nearly 1,000 vessels. The Group's activities now extend to land transportation, logistics, and a growing portfolio of port terminal operations. MSC's shipping network covers 300 trade routes, calling at 520 ports, with an annual volume of approximately 30 million TEU. Including its passenger operations, the MSC Group employs 200,000 people globally.

Adhering to the vision that "where the customer goes, MSC goes" Aponte transformed MSC from a single-vessel operation into one of the world's largest container shipping companies.

In the late 1980s, Gianluigi Aponte ventured into the leisure cruise sector, leading MSC Cruises to become the world's third-largest cruise brand. Like his European shipping counterparts, Aponte aggressively expanded into port and logistics businesses.

During the pandemic, MSC generated substantial profits, further accelerating its rapid expansion. By 2022, MSC had become the largest container shipping company in the world. In 2014, Aponte's son Diego assumed the role of President of MSC.