Patrizia Reggiani, the disgraced socialite who spent 18 years behind bars for orchestrating her ex-husband's assassination, could soon control a $23 million fortune following a landmark Milan court ruling that invalidated her late mother's will.
Background
Reggiani, known internationally as "Lady Gucci," was convicted in 1998 for hiring a hit man to kill Maurizio Gucci, the heir to the Gucci fashion empire. The murder occurred in 1995 when a shooter ambushed Gucci outside his Milan office building, firing three fatal shots. Reggiani was sentenced to 29 years but received early release in 2016 after serving 18 years.
The case drew renewed international attention with director Ridley Scott's 2021 film "House of Gucci," starring Lady Gaga as Reggiani and Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci. The couple married in 1972, built a jet-set lifestyle spanning homes in Milan and New York, and divorced in 1994—one year before the killing.
Reggiani's mother, Silvana Barbieri, died at age 90 in 2018. According to Italian media reports, she executed her will from a hospital bed with assistance from family lawyer Maurizio Enrico Carlo Giani, who also headed an entity called the Fernando and Silvana Reggiani Foundation—the intended beneficiary of Barbieri's estate.
The Investigation
The Milan court found irregularities that rendered Barbieri's final testament legally void. Central to the case was an audio recording made by Barbieri's housekeeper during the hospital meeting where the will was executed, which judges identified as containing discrepancies with the notarized document.
Housekeepers testified that Barbieri herself instructed them to record the proceedings "in case there were problems" later. The court determined these inconsistencies undermined the will's validity, leading to Monday's ruling invalidating the testament entirely.
Giani faced separate criminal investigation for alleged undue influence over the will's contents but was acquitted in 2024. The estate's estimated value includes real estate holdings and high-yield rental assets throughout Milan, valued at approximately 20 million euros (just under $23 million).
Despite her murder conviction, Reggiani—now 77 and residing in Milan—continues to receive roughly $1.5 million annually in alimony from Maurizio Gucci's estate. Italian courts upheld these payments because the divorce settlement was signed in 1993, two years before the killing, making it legally binding.
The couple's two daughters, Alessandra and Allegra, have repeatedly argued that their mother morally should not receive the payouts, though courts consistently rejected their appeals.
Key Takeaways
- Reggiani served 18 years for orchestrating Maurizio Gucci's 1995 murder, convicted in a five-month trial ending November 1998
- A Milan court invalidated her mother's will due to irregularities discovered through an audio recording made during testament execution
- If upheld on appeal, Reggiani would become the primary heir to approximately $23 million in family assets
- She already receives $1.5 million annually in alimony from her ex-husband's estate under a divorce settlement predating his death
What's Next
The case now moves to Milan's Court of Appeals, where judges will determine whether to uphold or overturn Monday's ruling invalidating Silvana Barbieri's final testament. If the decision stands, Reggiani would be reinstated as primary heir to her family's fortune. Her daughters have indicated they may continue legal challenges regardless of the outcome.