Following the death of Silvio Berlusconi, Italy finds itself at a turning point, with the future of his business and political empires up for debate. Berlusconi was a polarising figure who left a lasting impact on Italian business and politics. His business empire, valued at €7 billion, spans media, sports and banking. At the heart of it is Fininvest, a holding company that includes Italy's largest publisher, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, and Italy's largest commercial broadcaster, formerly known as Mediaset, which accounts for over 40% of the Italian TV advertising market. His two oldest children, Marina and Pier Silvio, occupy key management positions in the business and are expected to continue to do so.
The reading of Berlusconi's will is expected to confirm the succession plan for Fininvest and reveal clues about the future of his political party, Forza Italia, which has seen declining support in recent years and is now the smallest of the center-right parties in Italy's governing coalition. The future of Fininvest could also be impacted by external factors as streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon have upended the revenue model for TV broadcasters. Berlusconi's death could make Mediaset, in particular, an acquisition target for a company trying to create a pan-European broadcasting group.
While the future of Forza Italia is uncertain, Berlusconi's death has solidified the power of two women in Italian politics and business: Giorgia Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, and Marina Berlusconi, one of Italy's small minority of female CEOs. Meloni and Berlusconi have a cordial but formal relationship, and Berlusconi's death could potentially allow Meloni to consolidate power within the center-right coalition. It remains to be seen if Berlusconi's business legacy will endure or fade with his death, but his impact on Italian politics and the media landscape will be felt for years to come.