Jose Luis Cutrale Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

José Luis Cutrale Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

José Luis Cutrale is a Brazilian agribusiness magnate best known for building one of the world’s largest orange-juice empires.

Introduction

José Luis Cutrale was born on September 17, 1946, and became one of Brazil’s most influential agribusiness entrepreneurs. Known in business circles as the “Orange King,” he built the family company into a global citrus powerhouse. His estimated net worth has ranged from US $1.9 billion to US $2.5 billion, depending on source.  While publicly discreet about his personal life, Cutrale’s relationships and family-involvement in the business are well documented.

Quick Facts (Table Summary)

From Family Market Stalls to Orange­Juice Empire

José Luis Cutrale was born into a family rooted in citrus trading in São Paulo, Brazil. His Sicilian-Brazilian heritage gave him a deep-seated connection to fruit cultivation and export. 
In his early years, he sharpened business instincts by helping his father’s operations and absorbing the fundamentals of fruit production, processing, and logistics. The turning point came when the family moved from raw fruit trading to vertical integration—owning orchards, processing plants and managing export logistics.
Defining moments in José Luis Cutrale’s journey include:

• Founding or assuming leadership of Sucocítrico Cutrale Ltda. in 1967, transitioning into orange-juice processing. 

• Capitalizing on a freeze in Florida’s orange output, enabling Brazil-based citrus to rise in global importance. 

• Acquiring the U.S. banana brand Chiquita Brands International (in partnership) to diversify beyond citrus. 

Core Pillars of Wealth

The core pillars of José Luis Cutrale’s wealth include:

• Orange juice business – Through Sucocítrico Cutrale Ltda., dominating a large portion of global orange-juice concentrate, serving brands like Minute Maid and Simply Orange. 

• Acquisitions and diversification – Expansion into bananas via Chiquita, and into broader agribusiness commodities and logistics. 

• Global expansion – Production and export operations in Brazil and the U.S., giving leverage in international markets. 

Relationships & Family Life

José Luis Cutrale kept a relatively private personal life but his family played a central role in his business empire.
Key insights into José Luis Cutrale’s relationships and personal life:

• He was married; while some public profiles mention his spouse and children, he seldom sought publicity around family matters. 

• His children became involved in the business, continuing the family tradition of agribusiness leadership.

• His heritage and marriages reflect the blend of Sicilian-Brazilian roots and a global business profile.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, José Luis Cutrale led a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Ownership of large citrus estates and juice-processing plants, which function as both business assets and lifestyle properties.

• Low public profile—he created an aura of discretion, focusing on business rather than flamboyant displays of wealth. 

• Philanthropy and community engagement, especially in agricultural research and regional development through his firm and family legacy. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Estimating José Luis Cutrale’s net worth draws on multiple outlets; these are approximate values and may overlap.

For example, Forbes listed his net worth at US $1.9 billion at the time of his passing.  Another outlet estimated ~US $2.5 billion.  Fluctuations reflect private holdings, commodity-price sensitivity and currency impacts.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

José Luis Cutrale earned a reputation as a quiet but formidable business figure. In industry circles his influence extended beyond Brazil to global juice markets and supply-chain innovation.
He is seen as:

• A pioneer of vertical integration in citrus—owning land, production, processing and distribution.

• A figure who brought Brazil to the forefront of the global orange-juice industry, with the Cutrale business often supplying major brand-name products.

• A controversial figure in some legal and regulatory areas—his firm and family have faced allegations of cartel practices in the orange supply-chain. 
  His legacy: transforming a family citrus business into a multinational powerhouse, setting standards in agribusiness and demonstrating how commodity-based entrepreneurship can scale globally.

Conclusion

José Luis Cutrale’s journey—from assisting in his father’s citrus business to leading a global agribusiness empire—reflects ambition, strategic vision and legacy-building. His birthdate, September 17, 1946, anchors the story of a man who quietly but steadily built significant wealth and influence. His estimated net worth ranged up to a few billion dollars, his relationships remained family-centric and private, and his birthday is a moment each year that reflects the traditions he valued. At the intersection of agriculture, industry and global trade, José Luis Cutrale leaves behind a blueprint for how one person’s vision can reshape an entire market.