It’s not all pizza, pasta and Chianti: Italy is a land of brainpower and creative genius. From scientists to economists, actors, architects and singers, some of the most powerful and influential people in the world today were born and bred in Italy.
1. Mario Draghi
“I trust the people who are working with me. I delegate.”
Governor of the Bank of Italy from 2005 to 2011, economist Mario Draghi, 68, succeeded Jean-Claude Trichet as the president of the European Central Bank in 2011. In 2015 Forbes listed him as the 11th most powerful person in the world,and Fortune magazine ranked him as the world’s second-greatest leader.
2. Fabiola Gianotti
“The search for knowledge is a long and difficult task.”
Particle physicist Fabiola Gianotti, 55, is the first woman and the third Italian to hold the position of director-general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). She headed one of the experiments that led to the discovery of the Higgs boson. She is also an accomplished pianist. Gianotti was on Forbes’s power women list for 2015.
3. Federica Mogherini
“It’s right that we need to talk about our differences.”
Former Italian minister of foreign affairs Federica Mogherini, 42, is the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy and has been vice president of the European Commission since 2014. Ranked on Forbes’s 2015 list of most powerful women in the world, as the EU foreign minister, she represents Brussels on such issues as Iran’s nuclear power program, the Ukrainian crisis and the influx of migrants via the Mediterranean.
4. Filippo Grandi
“The road ahead is a challenging one.”
Filippo Grandi, 58, became UN High Commissioner for Refugees on January 1, 2016. He has worked in international affairs for over 30 years. Formerly head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, previously he worked for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as Deputy Special Representative. Grandi’s job is to ensure international protection and improved living conditions for millions of refugees, displaced and stateless people.
5. Renzo Piano
“A museum is a place where one should lose one’s head.”
Architect and engineer Renzo Piano, 78, won the Pritzker Prize in 1998, was selected by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2006 (and named the 10th most influential person in the Arts and Entertainment category). In 2013, Italy’s president, Giorgio Napolitano, appointed Piano senator for life. His most recent notable projects include The New York Times Building in Midtown, Manhattan and The Shard in London.
6. Carlo Petrini
“I believe that he who sows utopia will reap reality.”
Carlo Petrini, 66, founder of the International Slow Food Movement, first came to prominence in the 1980s for taking part in a campaign against the opening of fast-food chain McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in Rome. In 2004, he was chosen as one of Time magazine’s heroes of the year after opening a university promoting the relationship between food and culture. In 2008 the Guardian included Petrini on its list of 50 people capable of saving the planet.
7. Monica Bellucci
“Wherever I go, I am Italian.”
Actress and fashion model Monica Bellucci, 51, has been the face of Dolce & Gabbana and Dior Cosmetics, and ranked on Empire magazine’s list of the sexiest 25 female characters in cinema for her role of Persephone in the Matrix series. Her role in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre made her the oldest Bond girl in the franchise.
8. Paolo Sorrentino
“What I’m interested in are human beings alone.”
Film director and screenwriter Paolo Sorrentino, 45, achieved international recognition in 2004 for his thriller Le conseguenze dell’amore (The Consequences of Love). His 2013 film The Great Beauty, nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the BAFTA award for Best Film Not in the English Language and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
9. Miuccia Prada
“Fashion is instant language.”
Miuccia Prada, 66, is the fashion designer and entrepreneur behind Prada and Miu Miu. The youngest granddaughter of Mario Prada, she took over the family-owned luxury goods manufacturer in 1978. In 2013, she was named among the 50 best-dressed over 50 by the Guardian. In 2014, Forbes listed her as among the most powerful women in the world.
10. Chiara Ferragni
“My style changes all the time.”
In 2009, Chiara Ferragni, now 28, launched The Blonde Salad blog, and the fashion blogger and designer is now viewed as a source of inspiration for millions around the world. Not only has Ferragni modelled for, among others, Guess and designed for Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Chanel and Tommy Hilfiger, but in 2015 she was listed on the Forbes 30 under 30 and her blog and shoe line Chiara Ferragni Collection became a subject of study at Harvard Business School.
Read more about influential Italians in The Florentine Press’ book, Italian Sketches: The Faces of Modern Italy, by Deirdre Pirro.
