Early Life
Elisabeth DeLuca, born in 1947, is the widow of Fred DeLuca, who co-founded Subway in 1965. She was born in New York City and later married Fred in 1969. Before her marriage, she worked as a nurse. Her family immigrated to the United States from East Prussia.
Rise to Success
After Fred's passing, Elisabeth inherited his 50% stake in Subway, which led to her significant wealth. The sale of Subway to Roark Capital in 2023 for over $9 billion further increased her financial resources.
Key Business Strategies
While not directly involved in Subway's day-to-day operations, Elisabeth DeLuca's wealth stems from the success of Subway, a global franchise with over 37,000 locations. The franchise model and strategic expansion were key to Subway's growth.
Philanthropy
Elisabeth DeLuca has a strong philanthropic focus, especially in education and conservation. She has already donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation and the Elisabeth C. DeLuca Foundation. Her major donations include a $40 million gift to the University of Connecticut for a new nursing school and the donation of 27,000 acres of land in Florida for conservation efforts.