Eyewear tycoon According to the company, Leonardo del Vecchio was the CEO of EssilorLuxottica. He died in Milan at the age 87
Forbes estimates that Leonardo Del Vecchio ranks 52 on the Forbes List of Billionaires. His fortune is estimated to be 27.3 billion dollars.
While he was the head of the largest distribution and production company in the eyewear industry, Ray-Ban and Oakley were his brands.
Giovanni Ferrero (Ferrero Group, 36,2 billion USD) is Italy's second-richest man.
His multimillion-dollar legacy will be passed on to his six children, which he had in three separate marriages, Forbes reports
Leonardo del Vecchio has a multi-million dollar empire. But, he leaves behind a story about how one overcomes the most humble of origins.
Tomasso Ebhardt wrote the official biography of Leonardo Del Vecchio. He shows how Leonardo del Vecchio evolved from an abandoned child into a successful businessman.
Forbes recalls that the businessman spent seven of his years in Martinitt Orphanage where his parents had left him to work.
Tomasso Ebhardt claims that Leonardo del Vecchio was shaped by the orphanage, but that it also gave him "that sense of precision with which he would make a fortune as an entrepreneur."
Leonardo del Vecchio started working for Johnson when he was 14 years old, while still studying in the afternoons. He would start his own business venture at the age of 25.
Tomasso Ebhardt recalled that the Belluno provincial Local Administration had offered land to anyone who wanted to establish a business.
Tomasso Ebhardt recalled that the Belluno provincial Local Administration had offered land to anyone who wanted to establish a business.
Luxottica's first factory for eyewear was established there in 1958. At the age 34, Leonardo del Vecchio became the sole owner and founder of Luxottica.
He quickly became extremely rich through the enormous international growth of Luxottica.
1981 was the year he bought the North American Avantgarde. Luxottica became listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1990.
Luxottica was confronted with two major acquisitions in 2007: Real Estate Beni Stabili (the world's largest sports glasses company) and Oakley (the world's largest company for sunglasses)