Simone del Duca was a French businesswoman, a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and major philanthropist. Married to French publishing magnate Cino del Duca, she was left with a considerable fortune upon his death in 1967. Although she remained on the Board of Directors of her late husband's companies, she devoted a great deal of her time to philanthropic causes. In 1969, she established a prestigious literary prize in her husband's name. The Prix Mondial Cino del Duca provides a substantial cash prize and was made open to qualified authors from anywhere in the world. In 1975, she created the Simone and Cino del Duca Foundation. The Foundation's primary involvements gave support for scientific research and after being made a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1994, she funded two major prizes in visual arts and music awarded through the Académie. Simone del Duca's philanthropic work was recognised by the government of France who made her a Commander of the Legion of Honour.
Beyond her husband's business and her charitable foundation, Simone del Duca continued to breed horses that raced at the Deauville racecourse. In 1962, her horse Soltikoff won France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Another of her horses, Marly River, won '1987 French Horse of the Year' honours in hurdling.
Simone del Duca passed away in 2004 at the age of 91.