John Elkann Keeps Tight Control of the Agnelli Empire

The case is about Exor, the holding company of the Italian Agnelli family, headed by John Elkann, the fifth-generation descendant of the Fiat founder Giovanni Agnelli (1866-1945). Behind the success story is a two-decades long dispute that has pitted John Elkann, along with his two siblings, against their own mother. The case demonstrates the dynasty’s resilience in the face of a damaging and very public lawsuit that frequently attracts press coverage, like a recent 11-page profile in Vogue France entitled “Dans la famille Agnelli, une tragédie à l’italienne”. While tempting to draw parallels between the Agnelli story and ancient Greek tragedy, the reality proves far more prosaic.