Silvio Berlusconi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silvio Berlusconi
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Berlusconi in 2010
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| Prime Minister of Italy | |
| In office 8 May 2008 – 16 November 2011 |
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| President | Giorgio Napolitano |
| Preceded by | Romano Prodi |
| Succeeded by | Mario Monti |
| In office 11 June 2001 – 17 May 2006 |
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| President | Carlo Azeglio Ciampi |
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| Preceded by | Giuliano Amato |
| Succeeded by | Romano Prodi |
| In office 11 May 1994 – 17 January 1995 |
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| President | Oscar Luigi Scalfaro |
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| Preceded by | Carlo Azeglio Ciampi |
| Succeeded by | Lamberto Dini |
| President of Forza Italia | |
| In office 18 January 1994 – 12 June 2023 |
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| President of The People of Freedom | |
| In office 29 March 2009 – 16 November 2013 |
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| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 2 July 2019 – 12 October 2022 |
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| Constituency | North-West Italy |
| In office 20 July 1999 – 10 June 2001 |
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| Member of the Senate of the Republic | |
| In office 13 October 2022 – 12 June 2023 |
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| Constituency | Monza |
| In office 15 March 2013 – 27 November 2013 |
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| Constituency | Molise |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 15 April 1994 – 14 March 2013 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1936 Milan, Italy |
| Died | 12 June 2023 (aged 86) Milan, Italy |
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| Relatives | Paolo Berlusconi (brother) |
| Residences | Arcore, Italy |
| Alma mater | University of Milan |
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| Net worth |  US$7 billion (as of 5 April 2023[update]) |
| Signature |  |
Silvio Berlusconi (BAIR-luu-SKOH-nee; 29 September 1936 – 12 June 2023) was an Italian media tycoon and politician. He served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. He was also a member of the Italian Parliament and the European Parliament.
Berlusconi was a very wealthy person, known for owning Mediaset, a large media company, and the Italian football club A.C. Milan for many years. People often called him Il Cavaliere (The Knight). He was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Italy after World War II. He led the centre-right political party Forza Italia for a long time.
During his career, Berlusconi faced some legal challenges. He was convicted of tax fraud in 2013, which led to a temporary ban from holding public office. Despite this, he remained a powerful figure in Italian politics until his death.
Early Life and Family
Silvio Berlusconi was born in Milan, Italy, in 1936. His father worked at a bank, and his mother was a housewife. He had two siblings, a sister and a brother.
He went to a Salesian college for high school. Later, he studied law at the University of Milan and graduated with honors in 1961. During his university days, he played the upright bass in a band and sometimes sang on cruise ships. He even wrote songs for his football club, A.C. Milan, and his political party, Forza Italia.
In 1965, Berlusconi married Carla Elvira Dall'Oglio. They had two children, Marina and Pier Silvio. Later, he married Veronica Lario in 1990, and they had three children: Barbara, Eleonora, and Luigi.
Building a Business Empire
Berlusconi started his career in construction in the late 1960s. He built a large housing area called Milano Due near Milan. This project included 4,000 apartments and was designed so people could walk around without crossing busy streets.
The money he made from construction helped him start his media businesses.
Entering the Media World
In 1973, Berlusconi created a small cable TV company called TeleMilano. It served the homes he built in Segrate. This company grew and became Canale 5, which was Italy's first private national TV station.
He later bought two more TV channels, Italia 1 and Rete 4. This allowed him to create a country-wide network of private TV stations.
Founding Fininvest
In 1978, Berlusconi founded his main media group, Fininvest. This company grew very quickly. He was helped by his connections to Bettino Craxi, who was the Prime Minister of Italy at the time. Craxi's government passed laws that helped Berlusconi's TV stations broadcast across the country.
Fininvest became a huge media empire. Berlusconi also owned the famous football club A.C. Milan from 1986 to 2017. He sold the club in 2017.
Becoming Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi quickly became a major figure in Italian politics in 1994. He created his own political party, Forza Italia, just three months before the 1994 Italian general election.
First Time as Prime Minister
Berlusconi won the 1994 election and became Prime Minister. He promised to create "one million more jobs." However, his government lasted only nine months due to disagreements among the parties in his coalition.
He was defeated in the 1996 election by Romano Prodi.
Return to Power in 2001
In 2001, Berlusconi ran for Prime Minister again as the leader of the House of Freedoms coalition. He won the election and became Prime Minister for the second time.
During his campaign, he made a famous promise called the Contratto con gli Italiani (Contract with the Italians). In this contract, he promised to improve the economy, reduce unemployment, build public works, raise pensions, and lower crime.
His second government lasted until 2006. Some people believed he did not achieve all his promises, while Berlusconi himself said his government achieved a "continuous miracle."
Third Term as Prime Minister
Berlusconi was re-elected in the 2008 Italian general election and became Prime Minister for the third time. His main goals were to clean up the streets of Naples and improve Italy's economy.
He also aimed to fight tax avoidance and reform the justice system. His government, known as the Berlusconi IV Cabinet, took office in May 2008.
Resignation in 2011
In November 2011, Berlusconi resigned as Prime Minister. This happened during a difficult time for Italy, as the country faced growing financial problems and a large national debt. Many people believed his government was not doing enough to solve these economic issues.
After his resignation, Mario Monti formed a new government to address Italy's economic challenges.
Political Comeback and Later Years
After his resignation, Berlusconi continued to be active in politics. In 2013, he announced he would run for Prime Minister again. His party, Forza Italia, later supported a new coalition government.
In 2013, he was convicted of tax fraud. This meant he was banned from holding public office for two years. However, he remained the leader of Forza Italia.
In 2019, Berlusconi was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), becoming the oldest member of that assembly. He returned to the Italian Senate in 2022.
Death
Silvio Berlusconi died on 12 June 2023, in Milan, at the age of 86.
Honours and Awards
Berlusconi received many awards and honors during his life:
Italy: Knight of the Order of Merit for Labour (1977–2014)
Holy See: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX (2005)
Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2002)
Latvia: Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars (2005)
Libya: Recipient of the Al-Fateh Medal (2009)
Malta: Honorary Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (2004)
Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (2001)
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2002)
Saudi Arabia: Member 1st Class of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud (22 November 2009)
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Knight Grand Cross of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
Images for kids
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Berlusconi with Giulio Andreotti in 1984
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Berlusconi addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress in 2006
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Berlusconi addressing a crowd during a PdL meeting in 2008
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Berlusconi with the U.S. president Barack Obama in the Oval Office on 15 June 2009
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Anti-Berlusconi demonstration, held during his visit to Amsterdam in 2009
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Berlusconi with Gianfranco Fini, Renato Schifani and then President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano in 2009
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Berlusconi with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011
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Berlusconi at the EPP summit in March 2012
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Berlusconi in May 2019
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Berlusconi with the U.S. president George W. Bush at the White House
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Berlusconi with President George W. Bush, in Texas, 2005
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Berlusconi, U.S. vice-president Joe Biden and Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev meeting in Italy in June 2011
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See also
In Spanish: Silvio Berlusconi para niños
- Forbes list of billionaires (2011)
- List of Italian Prime Ministers by time in office#Italian Republic (1946–present)
- List of longest-serving G8 leaders
