Berlusconi’s first wife had two children and his second three. They’ll inherit the media tycoon’s empire.
Five kids, raised in the shadow of their powerful, affluent, vicious father, who constructed a media empire that hypnotized the nation and molded its politics and destiny.
Five kids who have grown up proud of their name but have always wondered: who would be worthy of their father and succeed them?
Silvio Berlusconi’s five children must deal with their father’s burdensome legacy, which sounds like the TV show “Succession.”
Berlusconi, like the HBO show’s temperamental tycoon Logan Roy, was born to a clerk and a housewife and became one of Italy’s wealthiest businesspeople.
Berlusconi’s five offspring inherited his media empire after his demise.
In the 1970s, he worked in construction before founding Canale 5, the first private national channel in Italy. This became Mediaset, a strong tool for an ambitious guy who wanted to be adored.
Berlusconi became Italy’s prime minister for three times between 1994 and 2011 amid scandals, corruption allegations, and controversies. He founded Forza Italia, a right-wing party.
Marina (56) and Pier Silvio (54), from Berlusconi’s first marriage to Carla Elvira Lucia Dall’Oglio, and Barbara (38), Eleonora (37), and Luigi (34), from his second marriage to Veronica Lario, raced to his side on Monday as his health worsened.
They were there when the larger-than-life politician and businessman who had split Italy’s public opinion for three decades died aged 86 on the same day from leukemia.
Berlusconi’s five legitimate children will inherit his media business and party. All of them own Fininvest, the multi-billion euro media firm founded by the former prime minister and the main stakeholder of Media for Europe (MFE).
Mediaset and Mondadori are owned by the company.
