The Shocking Betrayal Behind The Murder Of Maurizio Gucci

In 1921, Guccio Gucci founded Gucci, the luxurious fashion label that we know today. The business started as a leather goods store in Florence, Italy, that focused on manufacturing saddles and horse accessories made of high-quality Italian leather. As the business flourished, the range of products it offered widened to include bags. Gucci tasked his three sons — Rodolfo, Vasco, and Aldo — to help with the flourishing business, and the Gucci name became known worldwide (via CR Fashion Book).

Those born into the Gucci family were destined to be in the family business, including Rodolfo's only son Maurizio, who showed an early interest in the Gucci business. Maurizio learned the ins and outs of the business his grandfather built by working as a package boy and witnessing how his father and uncles managed the company, according to the Editorialist. In his early 20s, Maurizio met socialite Patrizia Reggiani, who would become his first wife.

In an interview with The Guardian, Reggiani recalled how she and Maurizio first encountered each other. "I met Maurizio at a party and he fell madly in love with me. I was exciting and different," she said. Reggiani wasn't impressed with the Gucci heir at first, but he was persistent, and they eventually started a romantic relationship.

Rodolfo Gucci wasn't happy with his son's relationship with Patrizia Reggiani. In his mind, the socialite was only with his son for the Gucci name and his wealth. Despite his father's disapproval, Maurizio Gucci married Reggiani in 1972. The union pushed Rodolfo to attempt to cut Maurizio from the family business, but the father and son reconciled when Reggiani gave birth to a daughter in 1977 (via the Editorialist). In the first several years of the marriage, the couple was happy and spent their time flying to different locations and attending lavish events.

In 1983, Rodolfo died, and Maurizio became a major stakeholder who now owned 50 percent of the business. With his powerful position, Maurizio and his uncle Aldo fought a legal battle for full control of the company, and Maurizio won. At that time, Maurizio's relationship with his wife started to decline, as he became focused on the family business. Reggiani worked as a chief adviser in the Gucci business, but she said that Maurizio stopped listening to her when Rodolfo died. One night in 1985, Maurizio just packed his bags and left the family home (via The Guardian).

At that point, Maurizio was losing control of managing the business. According to reports, the company lost millions of dollars, and Maurizio was forced to sell his shares to Investcorp in 1993, as reported by The New York Times. That was the first time in the company's history that someone other than a Gucci family member was given control of the business.

Patrizia Reggiani shared her anger toward her ex-husband in an interview with The Guardian. "I was angry with Maurizio about many, many things at that time. But above all, this. Losing the family business. It was stupid. It was a failure. I was filled with rage, but there was nothing I could do," she stated. After Maurizio Gucci left Reggiani, he started a relationship with Paola Franchi, and there were rumors that they were to be wed. Gucci and Franchi were acquainted in their younger years, and they started a relationship after both experiencing failure in their marriages.

On March 27, 1995, Gucci was about to enter his office in Milan when he was shot by a man. He was hit once in the head and three times in the back. The doorman, Giuseppe Onorato, was also shot twice on his arm. He immediately went to Gucci's aid. "I was cradling Mr. Gucci's head. He died in my arms," Onorato said. Authorities had several suspects in Gucci's assassination, as he was a well-known individual who had people around him with the motivation to have him killed — including his own family members. One of the suspects was Reggiani, who was always outspoken about her hatred for her ex-husband.

There was no concrete evidence to arrest anyone for the murder of Maurizio Gucci, and his case went unsolved until 1997. Authorities received an anonymous tip that drove them to investigate Patrizia Reggiani. It was later revealed that Reggiani conspired with a friend, Pina Auriemma, to have Gucci killed. All in all, five people were arrested in connection to Gucci's murder, as reported by Oprah Daily. Reggiani was sentenced to 29 years in prison, but she was granted an early release after 16 years on the condition of having a job.

After her release, Reggiani spoke out about her ex-husband's murder to the media. In one interview, as reported by Harpers Bazaar, she was asked why she didn't kill him herself. She answered, "My eyesight is not so good. I didn't want to miss." She also revealed her hopes of working for Gucci once again. "They need me. I still feel like a Gucci — in fact, the most Gucci of them all," she stated.