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"Lady Gucci," who had her ex-husband killed, could soon inherit $23M fortune

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Patrizia Reggiani, convicted of orchestrating her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci's murder, may inherit $23 million.
  • A Milan court invalidated her late mother's will, which had excluded Reggiani.
  • Reggiani, who served 18 years for the murder, still receives alimony from her ex-husband's estate.

Patrizia Reggiani, infamously known as "Lady Gucci" for orchestrating the assassination of her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci, stands to inherit a fortune of approximately 20 million euros (nearly $23 million). This potential inheritance follows a Milan court ruling that invalidated her late mother Silvana Barbieri's will.

the Milan court invalidated the will of Reggiani's mother, Silvana Barbieri, saying irregularities rendered the document legally void.

— CBS NewsThe court's decision to invalidate the will is central to Reggiani's potential inheritance.

Reggiani, who served 18 years in prison for the 1995 murder of the Gucci fashion house heir, was released in 2016. The contested will, executed by Barbieri from her hospital bed in 2018, had left all family assets to the Fernando and Silvana Reggiani Foundation, managed by a former family lawyer. However, the Milan court deemed the document legally void due to irregularities discovered during recent proceedings.

Barbieri executed her will from her hospital bed in 2018 at the age of 90, with the assistance of a notary and her lawyer, Giani.

— Italian media reportsDetails surrounding the creation of the contested will.

Key evidence in invalidating the will included a recording made by Barbieri's housekeeper, who testified that the instructions to record came from Barbieri herself, anticipating potential future issues. Judges found discrepancies between the audio recording and the notarized will, contributing to the decision. The former family lawyer, Maurizio Enrico Carlo Giani, was previously investigated for alleged undue influence but was acquitted in 2024.

That recording has become central evidence in the case, as judges identified discrepancies between what was captured in the audio and the contents of the notarized will, contributing to the decision to invalidate the final testament.

— CBS NewsThe housekeeper's recording played a crucial role in the court's ruling.

The case now proceeds to Milan's Court of Appeals. If the ruling is upheld, Reggiani, now 77, would be reinstated as the primary heir to her family's substantial estate, which includes Milanese real estate and rental assets. Notably, despite her conviction, Reggiani continues to receive about $1.5 million annually in alimony from her late ex-husband's estate, based on a divorce settlement signed before his murder.

If it upholds the ruling, Reggiani, now 77 and living in Milan, would be reinstated as the primary heir to her family's fortune.

— CBS NewsThe potential outcome for Reggiani if the appeals court confirms the ruling.
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Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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