Famous Entrepreneurs From Italy

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.

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.

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.

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.

Simonetta Stefanelli is an Italian fashion designer, entrepreneur, and former actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone in the popular crime film, The Godfather. After retiring from acting in 1992, Simonetta Stefanelli became an entrepreneur. She owns a fashion store called Simo Bloom, where she designs shoes and purses.

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. 

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. 

Gianni Infantino is a Swiss-Italian football administrator, currently serving as the president of FIFA. He studied law at the University of Fribourg and worked as the secretary-general of the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES). He later began working with the UEFA and FIFA. He was implicated in a FIFA corruption scandal in 2016. 

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. 

Domenico Dolce, part of the world-renowned fashion designer duo Dolce & Gabbana, was born into a family of Italian tailors. Dolce dropped out of fashion school to venture into independent work. He and his partner, Stefano Gabbana, whom he had met at a nightclub, were previously in an open relationship.

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.

Miuccia Prada is an Italian businesswoman and fashion designer. The granddaughter of Mario Prada, Miuccia is the head designer of the popular luxury fashion house Prada, which was founded by Mario Prada. Miuccia Prada is credited with founding Prada's subsidiary, Miu Miu. In 2014, Miuccia Prada was ranked 75th in Forbes magazine's most powerful woman in the world list.

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. 

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.

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.

Franco Moschino was an Italian fashion designer. Interested in fine arts from a young age, he became an illustrator for designer Gianni Versace and also worked as a freelance fashion illustrator. He later launched his own fashion house, Moschino, which specialized in leather accessories, shoes, and luggage. He also designed lingerie, casual wear, and evening wear.