bˈɔːɹn ɪn kˈæmdən, nˈuː dʒˈɜːsi, fɛɹˈɑːnteɪs fˈæmɪli mˈuːvd tə sˈaʊθ fɪlɐdˈɛlfiə wɛn hiː wʌz sˈɪks, ænd lˈeɪɾɚ tə wˈɛst fɪlɐdˈɛlfiə; hiː dɹˈɑːpt ˌaʊɾəv hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn hɪz sˈɑːfəmˌoːɹ jˈɪɹ ænd bɪɡˈæn wˈɜːkɪŋ ɪn lˈoʊkəl sˈuːpɚmˌɑːɹkɪts.
Born in Camden, New Jersey, Ferrante's family moved to South Philadelphia when he was six, and later to West Philadelphia; he dropped out of high school in his sophomore year and began working in local supermarkets.