“He left everything well resolved”: Berlusconi’s economic empire trembles but does not yield

Silvio Berlusconi’s economic empire, shaken by the death of its founder, faces a period of uncertainty, full of speculation about its future and possible litigation between his heirs.

Investors pounced Tuesday on the shares of his television group MediaForEurope (ex-Mediaset), whose price has skyrocketed on the Milan Stock Exchange since the announcement on Monday of the tycoon’s death. The market foresees a possible transfer of the group with benefits.

fininvestthe “holding” of the Berlusconi family with which it controls countless companies, wanted to stop the rumors by ensuring that its “activities will continue in the line of absolute continuity in all aspects”.

The succession of the tycoon, Italy’s third fortune with a net worth according to Forbes of 6.4 billion euros ($6.8 billion), will be complex, but it seems that the octogenarian patriarch left everything well figured out, according to analysts.

“His empire will survive without Silvio Berlusconi since he managed to ensure a transition between the generations that was planned before”, he explained to AFP Andrea Colliprofessor of business history at the Bocconi University of Milan.

The former leader, who entered Italian political life at the beginning of the 1990s, had not intervened for a long time “directly” in the management of his group, according to colli.

In your opinion, Berlusconi “He took advantage of his status as an entrepreneur to gain power” and then “He used his political influence for personal ends and, above all, to support his empire.”

“Iron Personality”

In the front line is his daughter Marine56 years old, president of fininvest since 2005 and from the publisher mondadori since 2003, called the “tsarina” or the “financial brain” of the Berlusconi clan.

“Marina Berlusconi took over from his father, progressively acquiring spaces of freedom and independence that allowed him to become a mainstay of reference for the group”, estimates colli.

“It seems fragile, but it has an iron personality”, Silvio Berlusconi liked to say about his eldest daughter, one of the most powerful women in the world according to Forbes magazine.

A transition that has been a success, for Giuseppe DiTarantoemeritus professor of economic history at Luiss University in Rome.

“There is no risk of decay of the Berlusconi empire, which will emerge, on the contrary, strengthened, because his sons have proven to be very good administrators”, he assures.

Di Taranto refers to Marine and his brother Pier Silvio Berlusconi54, who took the reins of Mediaset in 2015.

Born from the first marriage of Silvio Berlusconi with Carla Dall’Oglio, Marine and Pier Silvio each own 7.65% of Fininvest.

The other three children Luigi, Eleonora and Barbarafruit of the second marriage with Veronica Lariohave together 21.42%.

“Modus vivendi”

The tycoon, who died at the age of 86, controlled 61.21% of fininvesta part that must be distributed among his heirs when the will is opened.

The Berlusconi Galaxy also includes mondadori53.3% controlled, and the bank Mediolanumof which fininvest owns 30.1%. Added to this is the film producer jellyfishnumerous luxury mansions and yachts, and the football club of Monza.

“Marina will probably become number one in the group and will own the majority (of shares) with Pier Silvio. I don’t think there will be quarrels in the family, which is very close”, estimates say taranto.

What role will martha fascinates, 33, Silvio Berlusconi’s partner since 2020, former model and deputy for his Forza Italia party? Could it sow discord? “No“, ditch Andrea Collibecause after tensions arose at the beginning with the children, “they found a modus vivendi”.

Source: AFP