The Agnelli family is one of Italy’s most successful and iconic business families due in large part to growing the auto manufacturer Fiat into an international success.
Once described as Italy’s version of the Kennedy family, the Agnellis have been at the forefront of the business and social scene in Italy for more than a century. The family’s business roots trace back to the dying days of 19th Century, when family patriarch Giovanni Agnelli was one of the original founders of the automaker Piedmont in 1899. Piedmont would eventually go on to change its name to Fiat.
Giovanni’s grandson, Gianni Agnelli, took over as Fiat’s chairman from 1966 until 1996. He was instrumental in growing the company into an international brand. Under Gianni’s leadership, Fiat began purchasing other car brands including Ferrari and Lancia by the end of the 1960s.
Today, Gianni’s grandson John Elkann is at the helm of Fiat Chrysler, the family’s investment corporation Exor and the Italian Premiere league football team Juventus F.C. Elkann’s cousin Andrea Agnelli also has a hand in the family’s business interests. Both John Elkann and Andrea Agnelli are estimated to have a net worth between 12 and 13 billion dollars.
