Editing Gianni Agnelli (section)

== Early life ==
Agnelli was born in [[Turin]]; he maintained strong ties with the village of [[Villar Perosa]], near Turin in the [[Piedmont]] region,<!--<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.villarperosa.to.it/index.php?section=/speciali/territorio_storia/1000anni.html|url-status=dead|title=Benvenuto nel sito Istituzionale del Comune di Villar Perosa|publisher=Villar Perosa|date=19 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722055529/http://www.comune.villarperosa.to.it/index.php?section=%2Fspeciali%2Fterritorio_storia%2F1000anni.html|archive-date=22 July 2011|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>--> of which he served as mayor until 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.villarperosa.to.it/index.php/territorio/famiglia-agnelli.html|url-status=dead|title=La famiglia Agnelli|publisher=Villar Perosa|date=19 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722061943/http://www.comune.villarperosa.to.it/index.php/territorio/famiglia-agnelli.html|archive-date=22 July 2011|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> His father was the prominent Italian industrialist [[Edoardo Agnelli (entrepreneur, born 1892)|Edoardo Agnelli]].<ref name="Adnkronos 2023">{{cite news|url=https://www.adnkronos.com/gianni-agnelli-20-anni-fa-moriva-limprenditore-simbolo-dellitalia-nel-mondo_c27oxyUBz1ec3KSmiD9zU|title=Gianni Agnelli, 20 anni fa moriva l'imprenditore-simbolo dell'Italia nel mondo|publisher=Adnkronos|language=it|date=23 January 2023|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> His maternal grandmother was American;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calcioefinanza.it/2021/03/12/henry-kissinger-gianni-agnelli-privato/|title=Henry Kissinger: 'Vi spiego chi era Agnelli in privato|website=Calcio e Finanza|language=it|date=12 March 2021|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> his mother was Princess [[Virginia Bourbon del Monte]],<ref name="Adnkronos 2023"/> daughter of Carlo, 4th Prince of San Faustino, head of a noble family established in [[Perugia]], who was married with the American heiress Jane Allen Campbell.<ref name="Francesconi 2022">{{cite web|last=Francesconi|first=Giovanna|date=28 November 2022|url=https://www.vanillamagazine.it/virginia-bourbon-del-monte-una-agnelli-dimenticata/|title=Virginia Bourbon Del Monte: una Agnelli Dimenticata|website=Vanilla Magazine|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> Agnelli was named after his grandfather [[Giovanni Agnelli]], the founder of the Italian car manufacturer [[Fiat]].<ref name="Adnkronos 2023"/> At the age of 14, his father was killed in a plane crash,<ref>{{cite news|last=Castellani|first=Massimo|date=23 December 2022|url=https://www.avvenire.it/agora/pagine/juventus-100-anni-sotto-la-real-casa-agnelli|title=Calcio. Juventus, 100 anni sotto la real casa Agnelli|work=Avvenire|language=it|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> and he was raised by his grandfather,<ref name="Kovick 2021">{{cite web|last=Kovick|first=Margaret|date=9 March 2021|url=https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/the-personal-history-of-giovanni-gianni-agnelli.html|title=The personal history of Giovanni 'Gianni' Agnelli|website=Wanted in Rome|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> who died on 16 December 1945, fifteen days after Agnelli's mother, Virginia, died in a car crash.<ref name="Francesconi 2022"/>

Known as Gianni to differentiate from his grandfather, with whom he shared his first name, he inherited the command of Fiat and the [[Agnelli family]] assets in general in 1966, following a period in which Fiat was temporarily ruled by [[Vittorio Valletta]] while he was learning how his family's company worked.<ref name="Adnkronos 2023"/> Agnelli raised Fiat to become the most important company in Italy, and one of the major car-builders of Europe, amid the [[Italian economic miracle]].<ref name="Adnkronos 2023"/> He was considered the king of Italian business from the 1960s to the 1980s.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Brusa|first=Francesca|date=12 March 2021|url=https://www.lofficielitalia.com/pop-culture/gianni-agnelli-compleanno-stile-frasi-citazioni|title=Gianni Agnelli: il centenario della nascita|magazine=L'Officiel Italia|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> He also developed an accessory business,<ref name="Pirro 2008">{{cite magazine|last=Pirro|first=Deirdre|date=3 April 2008|url=https://www.theflorentine.net/2008/04/03/gianni-agnelli/|title=Gianni Agnelli|magazine=The Florentine|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> with minor companies, such as Fiat Velivoli, operating in the military industry.<ref name="Coletto 2013">{{cite web|last=Coletto|first=Marco|date=25 April 2013|url=https://www.iconwheels.it/auto-classiche/personaggi/gianni-agnelli|title=Gianni Agnelli e le automobili|website=Icon Wheels|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Fiat Sen. con Avv.-1940.jpg|thumb|left|Agnelli (left) with his grandfather and Fiat founder, [[Giovanni Agnelli]], in 1940]]
Agnelli was educated at Pinerolo Cavalry Academy, and studied law at the [[University of Turin]], although he never practised law.<ref name="Pirro 2008"/> He joined a tank [[regiment]] in June 1940 when Italy entered [[World War II]] on the side of the [[Axis powers]]. He fought on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]], being wounded twice. He also served in a Fiat-built armoured-car division during the [[North African campaign]], for which he received the [[War Cross of Military Valor]].<ref name="La Repubblica, 25 January 2003">{{cite news|url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2003/01/25/che-tenacia-il-tenente-agnelli.html|title='Che tenacia, il tenente Agnelli'|work={{Lang|it|La Repubblica}}|language=it|date=25 January 2003|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rizzo|first=Renato|date=20 May 2005|url=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/societa/200805articoli/32946girata.asp|url-status=dead|title=Nizza Cavalleria, suona l'ora dell'ultima carica|work={{Lang|it|La Stampa}}|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503014234/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/societa/200805articoli/32946girata.asp|archive-date=3 May 2010|access-date=9 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="Riovera 2021">{{cite web|last=Riovera|first=Andrea Elia|date=1 June 2021|url=https://www.civico20news.it/mobile/articolo.php?id=41577|title=Gianni Agnelli nel trentennale della nomina a Senatore a vita|website=Civico20News|language=it|access-date=14 February 2023}}</ref> After the [[armistice of Cassibile]], Agnelli became a liaison officer with the occupying American troops due to his fluency in English.<ref name="Pirro 2008"/> His grandfather, who had manufactured vehicles for the Axis powers during the war, was forced to retire from Fiat but named Valletta to be his successor. His grandfather died, leaving him head of the family but Valletta running the company. After the pre-war Topolino, Italy's first inexpensive mass-produced car, Fiat in the mid-fiftees made a bestseller with the [[Fiat 600]].<ref name="Adnkronos 2023"/>

Prior to his marriage on 19 November 1953 to [[Marella Caracciolo dei Principi di Castagneto]], a half-American, half-Neapolitan [[noblewoman]] who made a small but significant name as a fabric designer and a bigger name as a tastemaker,<ref>{{cite book|title=Almanach de Gotha|location=Gotha|publisher=Justus Perthes|year=1942|pages=398–399}}</ref> Agnelli was a noted [[Playboy (lifestyle)|playboy]] whose mistresses included actresses, such [[Anita Ekberg]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Linda Christian]], [[Danielle Darrieux]], the socialite [[Pamela Harriman]], and [[Jackie Kennedy]].<ref name="Pirro 2008"/> Although Agnelli continued to be involved with other women during his marriage, including Ekberg and the fashion designer Jackie Rogers,<ref>{{cite news|last=Gurley|first=George|date=23 October 2007|url=http://www.nyobserver.com/2007/jackie-oh?page=0%2C1|url-status=dead|title=Jackie, Oh!|work=The New York Observer|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118111640/http://www.nyobserver.com/2007/jackie-oh?page=0%2C1|archive-date=18 November 2007|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> the Agnellis remained married until his death of [[prostate cancer]] in 2003 at the age of 81.<ref>{{cite news|last=Glover|first=Jon|date=24 January 2003|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jan/24/guardianobituaries.italy|title=Giovanni Agnelli|work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>

For most of his life, Agnelli was considered to be a man of exquisite taste.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kurutz|first=Steven|date=6 December 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/fashion/mens-style/fabulous-life-lessons-from-gianni-agnelli.html|title=Fabulous Life Lessons From Gianni Agnelli|work=The New York Times|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> In 2002, he left his paintings to the city of Turin,<ref name="Pirro 2008"/> which established the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.piemonteitalia.eu/en/cultura/musei/pinacoteca-giovanni-e-marella-agnelli|title=Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli|website=Piemonte Italia|date=21 November 2017|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> His only son, [[Edoardo Agnelli]], was born in [[New York City]] on 9 June 1954, seven months after the couple's wedding at the [[Château d'Osthoffen]] in France.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.elle.com/it/showbiz/celebrities/a36285747/famiglia-agnelli-storia-patrimonio-attuale/|title=La famiglia Agnelli: una delle più grandi dinastie italiane|magazine=Elle|date=11 May 2021|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.corriere.it/economia/aziende/21_agosto_05/gianni-agnelli-eredi-secondogenita-margherita-suo-figlio-john-elkann-deccae70-f5f2-11eb-be09-a49ff05c6b25.shtml|title=Gianni Agnelli e gli eredi: la secondogenita Margherita e suo figlio John Elkann|work={{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}}|language=it|date=5 August 2021|access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> He gave up trying to groom him to take over Fiat, seeing how the boy was more interested in mysticism than making cars; his son studied religion at [[Princeton University]] and took part in a world day of prayer in [[Assisi]]. His son, who seemed burdened by the mantle of his surname,<ref>{{cite news|last=Aspesi|first=Natalia|date=16 November 2000|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/cronaca/agnelli/fragile/fragile.html|title=Edoardo Agnelli, una vita fragile|work={{Lang|it|La Repubblica}}|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Philip|first=Willan|date=15 November 2000|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/nov/16/philipwillan|title=Suicide suspected after Fiat heir found dead|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fanpage.it/attualita/agnelli-la-morte-misteriosa-di-edoardo-l-erede-mancato/|title=Edoardo Agnelli, la morte misteriosa del figlio dell'avvocato: l'erede mancato|website=Fanpage.it|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> committed suicide on 15 November 2000 by jumping off a bridge near Turin;<ref>{{cite web|last=Canino|first=Francesco|date=22 January 2023|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2023/01/22/una-sola-donna-ha-davvero-coinvolto-gianni-agnelli/6944661/|title='Una sola donna ha davvero coinvolto Gianni Agnelli. Quando gli dissero della morte di suo figlio Edoardo non pianse, ma era distrutto': il racconto di Jas Gawronski|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> Agnelli joined police at the scene.<ref>{{cite web|last=Merola|first=Marianna|date=15 November 2022|url=https://www.leccenews24.it/attualita/una-data-una-storia-il-vuoto-di-80-metri-lasciato-da-edoardo-agnelli.htm|title=Una data, una storia. Il vuoto di 80 metri lasciato da Edoardo Agnelli|website=Leccenews24.it|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref> The Agnellis had one daughter, [[Countess]] Margherita Agnelli de [[Pahlen]]. She is the mother of [[John Elkann]], [[Lapo Elkann]], and [[Ginevra Elkann]]. She has five other children from her second marriage to Count Serge de Pahlen: Maria de Pahlen, Peter de Pahlen, Anna de Pahlen, and Tatiana de Pahlen. Into the 2020s, the de Pahlens remain involved in a dispute with the Elkanns over Agnelli's inheritance.<ref name="Pirro 2008"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gerevini|first1=Mario|last2=Massaro|first2=Fabrizio|date=24 October 2021|url=https://www.corriere.it/economia/finanza/21_ottobre_24/eredita-agnelli-de-pahlen-contro-elkann-tre-testamenti-marella-caracciolo-b76f0b26-3430-11ec-93a1-3d25dcfcc17e.shtml|title=Eredità Agnelli: i fratelli de Pahlen contro gli Elkann. Ecco i tre testamenti di Marella Caracciolo|work={{Lang|it|Corriere della Sera}}|language=it|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2022/11/08/agnelli-causa-eredita/|title=Per cosa litigano gli Agnelli|work=Il Post|language=it|date=8 November 2022|access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>