Famous Entrepreneurs From Italy

Marco Polo was a Venetian explorer, writer, and merchant. He explored Asia along the Silk Road and is credited with providing the Europeans with descriptions of the culture of the Eastern world, which remained unknown until his exploration. Polo's travel book inspired other travelers like Christopher Columbus. His writings also influenced European cartography, which led to the Fra Mauro map.

One of the main patriarchs of the famed Medici family that ruled Florence, Italian banker Cosimo de' Medici was one of the richest men of his time. Medici was also a great patron of art and architecture. He also arranged a search for ancient manuscripts and opened a public library.

Santo Versace is an Italian businessman and politician. He is the president and co-CEO of Gianni Versace SpA, a luxury fashion company. He is also a shareholder of Viola Reggio Calabria Basketball. As a politician, he is a member of the Alliance for Italy political party. Previously, he was a member of The People of Freedom group. 

Giuliana Rancic is an Italian-American television personality and entertainment reporter. Over the years, she has co-hosted several important events like the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. Also known for her good looks, Rancic was named in the 100 Most Beautiful people list by People magazine in 2006. In 2014, she won the Daytime Emmy Award under the Fan Favorite category.

Flavio Briatore is an Italian businessman with a controversial career. In the 1980s, he was convicted of several fraud charges that were later extinguished. He launched many successful Benetton franchises while living as a fugitive. He has a diverse portfolio of business interests and is the founder of the Billionaire Nightclub brand. He was once engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell. 

Born to a farmer, Ferruccio Lamborghini started fiddling with his father’s tractors and was soon able to make full tractors out of scratch. He gradually created an auto empire named after him that is world-renowned for its luxury sports cars and SUVs. He retired to devote himself to winemaking later.

Maurizio Gucci was an Italian businessman. The grandson of Guccio Gucci, Maurizio served as the chairman of the Gucci group in the early-1990s. At the age of 46, Maurizio was shot dead by a hitman hired by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani. The murder inspired Sara Forden's book The House of Gucci, which has been adapted into a biographical crime film.

Olivia Palermo is an American fashion influencer, socialite, model, entrepreneur, and television personality. Palermo made headlines in 2007 when she sued socialiterank.com for false news. As a model, Olivia Palermo has appeared on the cover of popular magazines like Cosmopolitan, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and L'Officiel. Olivia Palermo has also been the face of brands like Banana Republic, Aerin, and Max&Co.

The son of a banker father, Italian economist Mario Draghi initially served as the president of the European Central Bank and the Bank of Italy governor, and is the current prime minister of Italy. The media named him Super Mario for efficiently handling the Eurozone debt crisis.

Valentino is an Italian fashion designer. He is credited with founding the popular luxury fashion house Valentino S.p.A. A prominent and influential fashion designer, Valentino has received several prestigious awards throughout his career. He is the recipient of the Couture Council Award and the Golden Plate Award. 

Stefano Gabbana is an Italian fashion designer. He is credited with co-founding the popular luxury fashion house, Dolce & Gabbana, along with another important fashion designer Domenico Dolce. Over the years, Dolce and Gabbana have been honored with several awards for their contributions to fashion. In 1991, they were honored with the prestigious International Woolmark Prize.

Italian-American chef Ettore Boiardi is remembered for revolutionizing the culinary industry with his food brand Chef Boyardee, which made a variety of Italian food products, such as sauces and spaghetti, available to Americans for the first time. He even supplied food to the Allied soldiers during World War II.

Barbara Berlusconi is the daughter of popular Italian politician and media tycoon, Silvio Berlusconi. A business executive, Barbara Berlusconi serves as an important member of the advisory board of Fininvest SpA. She also played an important managerial role at A.C. Milan in 2011.

Ernesto Bertarelli is an Italian born-Swiss businessman who is counted amongst the richest men in the world.  A well-known philanthropist, Bertarelli is credited with establishing a foundation to promote research and development concerning female and male infertility. In 2013, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Plymouth University.

Former Italian president and prime minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi had a major role in introducing Italy to the euro. He had been the governor of the Bank of Italy for 14 years and had held several portfolios, including the ministry of treasury. He was also a World War II veteran.

Emilio Pucci was an Italian fashion designer turned politician. He is best remembered for his style of creating geometric prints in a kaleidoscope of colors. He served as a pilot during World War II and became a fashion designer after the war. He also ventured into politics but didn’t enjoy much success in his political career. 

Princess Claire of Luxembourg is the wife of Prince Félix of Luxembourg and a member of the popular Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg. An influential person, Claire is currently third in the line of succession to the crown of Luxembourg. Over the years, she has also been part of many humanitarian projects, visiting places like Tiruppur in India.

Licio Gelli was an Italian financier remembered for his involvement in the Banco Ambrosiano scandal. Gelli was one of the men responsible for the collapse of Banco Ambrosiano. Found guilty of fraud, he was sentenced to prison for 18 years and six months. Gelli focused on writing in his later years, earning a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Luisa Spagnoli was an Italian businesswoman best remembered for creating the popular women's clothing and chocolate brand Perugina. Spagnoli's chocolate brand Baci Perugina became so famous that it was marketed in foreign countries, such as the United States of America.

Maria De Filippi is an Italian TV host who is often counted among the most popular presenters in Italian television. De Filippi currently runs the popular production company Fascino PGT, which was founded by her husband Maurizio Costanzo. Over the years, Maria De Filippi has won several Telegatto awards for her contribution to Italian television.

Jessica Rizzo is an Italian entrepreneur, stage and pornographic actress. After starting her career as a singer, Rizzo became a pornographic actress, often appearing alongside her husband Marco Toto. She then went on to become a leading pornographic actress. Jessica Rizzo is also credited with founding Jessica Rizzo Communications and launching her own line of perfume and lingerie.

Marina Berlusconi is the eldest daughter of popular Italian politician and media tycoon, Silvio Berlusconi. A businesswoman, Marina Berlusconi serves as the chairwoman of Fininvest Holding. She also serves as the chairwoman of the biggest publishing company in Italy, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. In 2007, she was ranked 33rd in the most powerful woman in the world list by Forbes magazine.

Sergio Rossi was an Italian shoe designer who founded the eponymous women’s footwear company. The son of a shoemaker, he learned the trade from his father and went on to open his own shop. His shoes and sandals became much popular and were endorsed by top fashion designers. His son, Gianvito Rossi, also has his own shoe collection.  

Carla Sozzani is an Italian magazine and book editor, businesswoman, and gallerist. She is credited with creating the 10 Corso Como art establishment in Milan and founding Galleria Carla Sozzani. For many years, she also served as Italian Vogue's editor-in-chief, contributing immensely to the success of the magazine in Italy.