Agnelli: THE Italian Industrialist
I’ve been exploring Europe and America’s industrial roots and history as we reindustrialize in America. We all know about Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford. But the guy who stands out to me was the Agnelli family of FIAT fame. Fortunately there is a documentary on him that just came out.
About the man and grandson of the founder, Gianni Agnelli who rebuilt Fiat after World War 2. War veteran, playboy renowned around the world, dating and sleeping with the most beautiful and glamorous women, partying while high on drugs in his “long white nights.” He was the unofficial prince of Italy.
He was also renowned for his amazing cars and insane driving. He jumped out of a helicopter into the sea every week. He sailed and skied. He was the owner of Juventus football team of Turin. Vital, energetic, charming, handsome and fun. A guy who exemplified La Dolce Vita aka the Good Life. Maybe too much of the good life as he was a pretty awful & distant parent that directly led to his son’s suicide. Very sad circumstances. Something we can learn from too.
Yet while a terrible father, a flawed but talented man, he saved & modernized Fiat. He bought Ferrari, helped keep Italy into the West and ended the Communist threat in the country. He was brave and walked the streets of Turin during the years of Lead to show he was staying and confident of the future. “Who says life is not dangerous?”
What I appreciated about him was his taste. “The Agnelli’s were paragons of style. Vanity, he invented it. He was the most stylish man in Italy.” That says something. “Ease, grace and not trying to hard.” Sprezzatura: the art of being nonchalant yet looking good.
He had amazing taste in architecture, art, fashion, food, his car collection and this was reflected in the beautiful cars he made.
“He was Aristotlerian: for him the good and the beautiful overlapped.” He did everything with intelligence and style.
It’s so inspiring. Gianni seemed to be one of the few who knew how to have fun despite his wealth and responsibility. He lived with zest. “He had an enormous appetite for life. As soon as he got an idea, he’d do it. Go go go go!”