Stefano Casiraghi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefano Casiraghi
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Stefano Casiraghi, 1989
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| Born | 8 September 1960 |
| Died | 3 October 1990 (aged 30) |
| Resting place | Chapel of Peace, Monaco |
| Occupation | Chairman, Cogefar France Founder/Majority shareholder, Engeco World Offshore Champion |
| Known for | Son-in-law of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Andrea Casiraghi Charlotte Casiraghi Pierre Casiraghi |
Stefano Casiraghi (born September 8, 1960 – died October 3, 1990) was an Italian speedboat racer, a well-known public figure, and a businessman. He was the second husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco. Stefano sadly passed away in a racing accident while trying to win his 1990 Class 1 World Powerboat Championship title again.
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Early Life and Family
Stefano Casiraghi was born on September 8, 1960. His father, Giancarlo Casiraghi, was a rich businessman. His mother was Fernanda Biffi. Stefano grew up at his family's home, Villa Cigogne, in Fino Mornasco, Italy.
He had two brothers, Marco and Daniele, and one sister, Rosalba. From a young age, Stefano loved speedboat races on Lake Como. He started studying at Milan's Bocconi University, but he left before finishing his degree. He then began working with his father and older brother, Marco.
Stefano's Business Ventures
Stefano Casiraghi was involved in his family's businesses. These included real estate and selling goods to other countries. The New York Times newspaper described him as a financier, which means he managed large amounts of money.
He was also the Chairman of Cogefar France, a construction company linked to Fiat. Stefano also owned most of Engeco, a construction company he started in Monaco in 1984. When his first child was born, he was in charge of the Christian Dior fashion store in Monte Carlo.
Speedboat Racing Career
Stefano Casiraghi was a "throttle man" in speedboat racing. This job means controlling the boat's speed and balance. He had to watch the water conditions to make the boat go as fast as possible.
He took part in 80 offshore races during his life. Over 20 years, he won 12 of these races. When he died, he was the world champion of offshore speedboat racing. He had won the World Championship in Atlantic City in 1989. In 1984, Casiraghi set a record on Lake Como, reaching 277 kilometers per hour (about 172 miles per hour). This record has since been broken.
Marriage and Children
On December 29, 1983, Stefano married Princess Caroline of Monaco. Their wedding was a civil ceremony held in the Hall of Mirrors at the Princely Palace in Monaco. They could not have a Catholic church wedding at that time. This was because Princess Caroline had been divorced before, and her first marriage had not yet been officially ended by the church.
However, Princess Caroline was more than three months pregnant, so they did not want to wait. The couple had three children:
- Andrea Casiraghi (born June 8, 1984)
- Charlotte Casiraghi (born August 3, 1986)
- Pierre Casiraghi (born September 5, 1987)
All three children were born in Monaco. They were in line to the Monegasque throne after their mother. Even though their parents' marriage was not recognized by the church at first, Pope John Paul II made their children legitimate in February 1993. This happened after their mother's first marriage was officially ended by the church in June 1992.
Tragic Death
Stefano Casiraghi died in a speedboat racing accident on October 3, 1990. The accident happened off the coast of Monaco near Cap Ferrat. He was defending his world offshore title at the time. Stefano was 30 years old and had planned to stop racing after this competition. Just a few weeks earlier, he had survived another accident when his boat exploded near Guernsey.
During the race, the waves were three to four feet high. Stefano's 42-foot catamaran boat, named Pinot di Pinot, flipped over. The boat was traveling at about 150 kilometers per hour (about 93 miles per hour). His boat did not have a full cover over the cockpit. Experts who looked into the accident believe Stefano would likely have survived if the boat had been equipped with one.
Because of his death, safety rules for speedboat racing became much stricter. Now, boats must have a safety harness and a closed hull. A twin hull design is also required for boats. Races are now held closer to the harbor where the waves are calmer. This area is also blocked off to keep people safe.
Anne Edwards wrote that Stefano and his co-pilot, Patrice Innocenti, were trying to catch up in the race. They had stopped earlier to rescue another pilot whose boat had caught fire. Patrice Innocenti survived the accident. He was pulled from the water and taken to Monaco's Princess Grace Hospital.
Stefano Casiraghi's funeral was held in Monaco's Cathedral of St. Nicholas. This was the same place where Princess Grace's funeral had been held eight years before. Stefano is buried in the Chapelle de la Paix in Monaco. This chapel is also the resting place of his wife's grandfather, Prince Pierre of Monaco.
See also
In Spanish: Stéfano Casiraghi para niños
