The son of Francesco II Pico, in 1406 he allied himself with Niccolò III d'Este, lord of Ferrara.

In 1420 he abandoned the loyalty to the Ferrarese to serve under the Visconti dukes of Milan until the Peace of Ferrara of 1428.

Thanks to his loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire, emperor Sigismund granted him the title of count of Concordia.

Giovanni held the lordship jointly with his other cousin Francesco III until his death.

Giovanni had two sons with Caterina Bevilacqua of Verona: Gianfrancesco, who succeeded him, and Niccolò.