Close share panel ×. Media captionCaroline Hawley reports: ''Famously publicity shy, Michele Ferrero headed a family chocolate empire with a fairytale story''. Billionaire Michele Ferrero, whose global chocolate empire made him Italy's richest man, has died aged 89. His privately-owned firm is famous for its chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, Kinder eggs and Tic Tac sweets.