Enzo Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari was a legendary Italian entrepreneur, racing driver, and founder of the world-famous Ferrari brand. He was born on February 18, 1898, in Modena, Italy, and passed away on August 14, 1988. Enzo Ferrari became globally renowned as the founder of Scuderia Ferrari and the luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari.

Before founding Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari was active as a racing driver. In the 1920s, he competed for Alfa Romeo, achieving several successes in national races. In 1929, he founded Scuderia Ferrari, initially as a racing division for Alfa Romeo customers. In 1932, the year his son Alfredo was born, Enzo decided to retire from driving.

In 1939, Enzo left Alfa Romeo and started his own company: Auto Avio Costruzioni. Due to contractual restrictions, he was initially not allowed to use the Ferrari name. In 1947, the first car bearing the Ferrari name rolled out of the factory. From that moment, Ferrari grew into an icon both in motorsport and in the world of luxury cars.

Scuderia Ferrari is the oldest and most successful team in Formula 1 history. Enzo led the team with discipline and a keen eye for talent. Under his leadership, greats such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Niki Lauda, and Gilles Villeneuve raced for Ferrari. His passion and dedication laid the foundation for dozens of world championships and a global fanbase.

The exact net worth of Enzo Ferrari at the time of his death is not known, but Ferrari had already become one of the most valuable brands in the world during his lifetime. After his passing, FIAT (now part of Stellantis) acquired a majority stake in Ferrari. In 2016, the company was spun off and became a publicly traded entity once again. Today, Ferrari’s brand value is estimated in the tens of billions of euros.

Enzo Ferrari married Laura Dominica Garello in 1923. Together they had one son: Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, born in 1932. Dino tragically passed away in 1956 at the age of 24 from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a hereditary muscle disease. His death had a profound impact on Enzo and marked a turning point in his life. In addition to Dino, Enzo also had an illegitimate son, Piero Ferrari, who was officially recognized only after Laura’s death in 1978. Today, Piero serves as Ferrari’s vice chairman and remains closely involved with the company.

Footballer Mesut Özil is often said to resemble Enzo Ferrari. Some even consider him the reincarnation of Ferrari, as Özil bears a striking resemblance to the Italian founder and was born just two months after his death.

Following his death, several initiatives were created to honor Enzo Ferrari’s life and legacy. In 2023, the film Ferrari was released, portraying his turbulent life in 1957. Directed by Michael Mann, the film starred Adam Driver in the lead role. Fans can also visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena to learn more about his life, or the Ferrari Museum in Maranello to discover the brand’s history. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola is named after Enzo and his son.

Enzo Ferrari passed away on August 14, 1988, at the age of 90 in Modena. At his request, his death was announced two days later. In the Formula 1 weekend that followed, Ferrari drivers Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto delivered an emotional 1-2 finish at Monza in his honor.