Episode 20 - The House of Gucci: A Tale of Glamour and Blood

The Gucci name is a global symbol of luxury, elegance, and Italian craftsmanship. But behind the iconic double-G logo lies a dark family history of greed, betrayal, and, ultimately, murder. This episode tells the sensational story of how the Gucci family built a fashion empire and then tore itself apart in a Shakespearian saga of jealousy and ambition. We chronicle the company’s rise from a single leather goods shop in Florence to a global status symbol under the leadership of Aldo Gucci.

We then delve into the bitter family infighting that defined a generation, as cousins and brothers sued each other for control of the company, leading to scandals involving tax evasion and public humiliation. The conflict culminated in the story of Maurizio Gucci, the grandson of the founder, and his ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani. We recount their whirlwind romance, their extravagant lifestyle, and the bitter divorce that followed after Maurizio left her for a younger woman and sold his stake in the family business.

The story reaches its shocking climax in 1995, when Maurizio Gucci was gunned down on the steps of his Milan office. We follow the police investigation that eventually exposed a plot orchestrated by a jealous Patrizia, who had hired a hitman to murder her ex-husband. It is a cautionary tale about how a family's name can become both a source of immense fortune and a catalyst for its own destruction.