Gallo Julio

American vintner, a multimillionaire entrepreneur. Julio was in charge of the winemaking operation of a huge family winery that distributed low price wines in supermarkets. His partnership with his brother Ernst netted him a personal income around $1.5 billion. Julio was the second son of Joseph and Susie Gallo. As a child, he worked long hours on his fathers winery. At 23, his father murdered his mother and then committed suicide. Julio went into partnership with his older brother Ernest, establishing the Gallo Brothers Wineries after the repeal of Prohibition. In the partnership, Julio was in charge of the winemaking operation. He exposed the family to a strong work ethic. Julio was concerned with preserving some of the Gallo land as a wildlife refuge. Julio and Ernest were wealthy contributors to both the Republican and Democratic Parties. They reached the distinction of being two of the wealthiest Americans of their era with a fortune estimated at $1.3 billion. His marriage to Aileen Gallo produced a son Bob, born in 1935. His son and son-in-law later joined him in the Gallo family business. Julio died in an auto accident on the afternoon of 5/02/1993 when his neck was broken as his Jeep Wrangler plunged 35 ft down an embankment near Tracy, California. He was survived by his wife, Aileen, a son and daughter and two granddaughters. His younger brother Joseph died several years later on February 17, 1007, at age 87. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less