A family affair
Italy’s greatest businesses are also its greatest families, and vice versa
- Words By Joseph Bullmore
12 min read
In 1946, Italy lost a monarchy and found an aristocracy. As World War Two ended, and King Umberto II and Queen Marie-Jose were quietly shown the door, a new style of ruling dynasty popped up. It was one buoyed by a manufacturing revolution that allowed people to take their historic family businesses (silk-making here; cashmere weaving there) to a new international audience, now flush with sudden funds.
