Leonardo Del Vecchio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonardo Del Vecchio
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Leonardo Del Vecchio in 2011
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| Born | 22 May 1935 |
| Died | 27 June 2022 (aged 87) Segrate, Italy
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| Occupation | Founder and chairman of Luxottica |
| Known for | Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Ray-Ban, Oakley |
| Children | 6, including Claudio Del Vecchio |
Leonardo Del Vecchio (born May 22, 1935 – died June 27, 2022) was a very successful Italian businessman. He started a company called Luxottica, which became the biggest company in the world for making and selling glasses and frames. Luxottica has many employees and thousands of stores. When he passed away, he was one of the richest people in Italy and in the world.
Contents
His Early Life and Career
Leonardo Del Vecchio was born in Milan, Italy, on May 22, 1935. His family was not rich, and his father passed away before he was born. He grew up in an orphanage because his mother already had four other children.
He started working as an apprentice, learning how to make tools and parts from metal. But he decided to use these skills to make parts for glasses instead. In 1961, he moved to a town called Agordo, which was known for making eyewear. There, he started his new company, Luxottica.
Growing Luxottica
In 1967, Leonardo began selling complete glasses frames under the Luxottica name. A few years later, in 1971, his company also started making contact lenses.
Luxottica grew by buying other companies. In 1974, they bought a company that helped distribute their products. Then, in 1981, Luxottica opened its first international office in Germany. A big step was made in 1988 when they signed a deal with the famous fashion designer Giorgio Armani to make glasses for his brand.
Becoming a Global Company
Luxottica became a public company, meaning people could buy shares of it. It was listed on the stock market in New York in 1990, and in Milan in 2000. This helped the company buy even more well-known brands.
They bought the Italian brand Vogue in 1990, followed by Persol and LensCrafters in 1995. In 1999, they acquired Ray-Ban, a very famous sunglasses brand. Then, in 2001, they bought Sunglass Hut, a popular chain of sunglasses stores.
Luxottica continued to expand its retail stores by acquiring companies like OPSM in 2003 and Pearle Vision in 2004. In 2007, they made a big deal to buy Oakley, another popular eyewear brand.
His Family Life
Leonardo Del Vecchio was married three times and had six children. He lived in Milan. His children include Claudio Del Vecchio, Marisa, Paola, Leonardo Maria, Luca, and Clemente. He remarried his second wife in 2010.
His Passing
Leonardo Del Vecchio passed away on June 27, 2022, at the age of 87. He died from pneumonia in a hospital near Milan. His company, EssilorLuxottica, announced the sad news.
See also
In Spanish: Leonardo Del Vecchio para niños
