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How the Agnelli Family Built FIAT and Modern Italy
Description
In Episode 94 of Family Business Stories with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into the Agnelli dynasty, the family behind FIAT. Starting with Giovanni Agnelli's founding in 1899, they trace how the family turned a small car plant into an industrial empire that shaped Italy's economy. The episode focuses on the 2003 succession crisis after Gianni Agnelli's death, when his grandson John Elkann took over at age 28. Lucas explains how Elkann stabilized the company through the 2008 recession and the 2014 merger that created Stellantis. Luna challenges whether the family's political power in postwar Italy was a net positive. The hosts also discuss the family's unique governance structure, including the holding company Giovanni Agnelli B.V., which keeps voting control concentrated. A sharp, specific look at how one family's decisions affected millions of workers and the Italian identity.