Renowned French motorsport executive and former rally co-driver Jean Todt. His father was a Jewish doctor, and he was born in Pierrefort, France. Jean has always had a fascination with motorsports. Jean’s father preferred that he become a doctor, but in his spare time, he enjoyed working on and fine-tuning cars in a Parisian garage. After graduating from a prominent Parisian business and economics school with a bachelor’s degree, Jean began his career in 1966 as a rally co-driver. He partnered with numerous drivers from around the world and took part in multiple world championships with various automakers. In the end, he and Guy Fréquelin won the first world championship rally of his career in 1981. He stopped competing in races in 1981 and went on to be employed by “Peugeot” as the director of racing. In addition, he oversaw “Scuderia Ferrari” as its general manager. He was elevated to the position of CEO at “Ferrari” in 2006. In order to take on the position of president of the “Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile” (FIA), he left in 2009. He was named the United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy for road safety in 2015.
Early Life & Childhood of Jean Todt
On February 25, 1946, Jean Todt was born in Pierrefort, a small French village in the Auvergne area. His father was a Jew who, at the age of 17, traveled from Poland to France during World War II.
Jean’s father was a doctor in France. He desired for Jean to carry on his legacy. Jean, though, had no interest in becoming a doctor. Since he was a little boy, he has been an avid sports car fan.
Jean studied at the École Des Cadres, a business school in Paris that is commonly referred to as the École des Dirigeants et Créateurs d’Entreprise, or EDC. But Jean tuned automobiles with his mates at the “Madeleine” garage in Paris all of his free time. His passion for vehicles and rallies grew during those early years.
In 1966, he received his business school diploma. His passion for motorsports inspired him to pursue a career in the industry. Jim Clark and Dan Gurney were two of the legends that greatly influenced him.
He entered rallies in the early years of his career using the “Mini Cooper,” the family vehicle. As a rally driver, he was aware that working in tandem with another driver could be advantageous.
Career of Jean Todt
In 1966, Jean Todt and Guy Chasseuil took part in their first rally. Jean first gained recognition for his exceptional navigational, mathematical, and strategic skills. He quickly rose to prominence in the local arena as one of the most sought-after young navigators after entering the rally circuit.
He teamed up with some of the biggest personalities in the game, like Guy Fréquelin, Rauno Aaltonen, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, and Hannu Mikkola, within the first year of joining the track. Alongside Jean-François Piot, Ove Andersson, Achim Warmbold, and Jean-Claude Lefèbvre, he also had considerable success as a partner.
In 1981, Jean and Guy Fréquelin won the “World Rally Championship” following their participation in other world championships in the years that followed. He was the first runner-up in the drivers’ category of the same championship while driving a “Talbot” car to victory.
He lost interest in the racetrack just as his career was beginning to take off. He attempted to join the “FIA” after developing a strong interest in the sport’s managerial facets.
Jean decided to end his co-driving career in the early 1980s after earning the respect of Peugeot’s CEO, Jean Boillot. Jean became the company’s director of racing after Boillot hired him. The French automaker was having serious reputational issues in addition to financial difficulties when Jean joined. After taking over as the company’s director of racing, Jean put in a lot of effort over the following three years to try and bring “Peugeot’s former glory” back.
In the end, the business won the manufacturers’ “World Rally Championship” twice in a row, in 1985 and 1986. Jean decided to leave “Peugeot” after putting in another seven years of labor there.
In 1993, the CEO of “Scuderia Ferrari” hired him. Four hundred employees reported to him in his capacity as general manager of the company’s racing business. Additionally, he became the company’s first non-Italian to hold the highly esteemed position.
When Jean was hired, “Ferrari” had already moved on from its heyday. Given Jean’s prior successes at “Peugeot,” his presence offered them hope as they had not won a drivers’ title since 1979.
Gerhard Berger, Ferrari’s driver, won the German Grand Prix within a year of Jean joining the firm as general manager. This was Ferrari’s first victory in over four years.
At season’s end, Jean made the record-breaking driver Michael Schumacher an offer to join “Ferrari.” Michael agreed to take the deal. They ultimately became close personal pals as well.
Michael Ferrero won the “Spanish Grand Prix” in 1996. He then went on to win the “German Grand Prix” and the “Italian Grand Prix.” The company rose to the top once more thanks to Jean’s magic touch, and “Ferrari” went on to win five straight “World Championships” in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. It was a milestone in “Formula One’s” history.
Jean received a promotion to CEO of “Ferrari” in 2004. 106 victories and 14 world titles were won by Jean throughout his illustrious career at “Ferrari,” which ended in 2009.
Jean began serving as “eSafety Aware!”‘s president in April 2009. The business advertised smart cars. He formally declared his intention to run for the “FIA” leadership in July 2009.
Following the October elections, Jean became the new president of the federation. He was able to hold onto his position as president in the elections held in both 2013 and 2017.
In addition, Jean is a member of the French “Académie des sports” and “Académie des technologies.” He also serves on the board of directors of Groupe Lucien Barrière, a chain of upscale hotels and casinos in France. He is also one of the “Société des Amis du Musée d’Art moderne de la ville de Paris” administrators.
Individual Life of Jean Todt
Michael Schumacher has long been the subject of Jean Todt’s public adoration. Ever since they started working at “Ferrari,” they have been pals. They have been close family friends even after leaving the company.
In 2004, Jean began dating Malaysian-Chinese actor Michelle Yeoh. She has appeared in movies including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Tomorrow Never Dies. A producer on Michelle’s 2011 film “The Lady,” Jean was one of them.
Many of Jean’s opponents have asserted that he makes use of his wife’s celebrity status by inviting Michelle to numerous meetings to which he is also invited as the “FIA” president.
Jean’s former marriage produced a son, Nicolas Todt. Nicolas is a co-owner of the ART Grand Prix “GP2” team.
The net worth of Jean Todt
The estimated net worth of Jean Todt is about $1 million.