
Silvio Berlusconi, the scandalous former Italian prime minister who died in June at the age of 86, has left€100 million (over₹9 billion or $108.9mn) to his girlfriend Marta Fascina, 33.
As per the will, Berlusconi leftcontrol of his business empire to his two eldest children — aged 56 and 54 —and another €30 million (over ₹2.7 billion) to a business associate.
The details of Berlusconi’s will were released on Thursday (July 6), aboutthree weeks after thousandsattended the three-time prime minister’s state funeral in Milan.
Berlusconi succumbed to Leaukaemia on June 12.
Berlusconi last year called off a marriage ceremony with Fascina after reportedly being convinced by his children from tying the knot.
In an optically vibrantmock wedding ceremony, the couple walked up the aisle of a chapel, exchanged rings and cut a cake but did not really marry.
Marta Fascina, 33, is an MP with Berlusconi's Forza Italia. Fascina is reportedly expected to takean influential role in the late leader's party despite being nicknamed 'the Mute' by party colleagues, according to a report in The Times.
After Fascina, the second topbeneficiary of Berlusconi’s wealth was Marcello Dell’Utri, 81. Dell'Utri is known to havehelped Berlusconi launch Forza Italia in 1994.
Dell'Utri was jailed in 2014 for four years for alleged dealings with the Sicilian mafia. He served out his time in prison following an extradition from Lebanonwhere he had fled before sentencing.
In the will, Berlusconi gave up his stake in his holding company Fininvest to leave his two oldest children Marina, 56, and Pier Silvio, 54, with a combined 53 per cent controlling stake.
Marina is chairwoman at Fininvest and also runs publishing company Mondadori. Her brother Pier Silvio manages the TV network MFE.
A combined minority stake of 47 per cent stays in the hands of Berlusconi’s three children from his second marriage, Barbara, 38, Eleonora, 37, and Luigi, 34.
Also watch |Silvio Berlusconi dies at the age of 86 | Italy News
"The 53 per cent for Marina and Pier Silvio is a sign of stability and continuity, showing they are the children who will continue to run things," Alan Friedman, a Berlusconi biographer was quoted as saying by The Times.
"This was touted as the real life version of the TV show Succession, but its more like Star Trek: Next Generation."
Berlusconi's party is a partner in the coalition government run by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
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