Episode Details
Back to Episodes
How the Beretta Family Kept a Gun Empire for 500 Years
Description
Lucas and Luna explore the Beretta family, the oldest active manufacturer in the world, which has run a firearms business for 500 years and 15 generations. They dig into the specific governance structures—family council, family assembly, and the 'family constitution'—that let them survive wars, economic collapses, and succession crises without losing control. The episode focuses on the 1990s near-collapse and the turnaround led by Ugo Gussalli Beretta, who centralized operations and professionalized management without selling out. Lucas explains how the family uses a unique 'dual-track' system: family members can work in the business only after proving themselves outside first. Luna brings a 2026 update on how they are navigating European sustainability regulations on lead ammunition. A concrete lesson in multi-generational endurance from a company that started making arquebus barrels in 1526.