Paola Franchi

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Paola Franchi
Paola Franchi.png
Franchi in 1994
Born (1953-11-17) 17 November 1953 (age 68)
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
NationalityItalian
OccupationInterior designer
Spouse(s)
Giorgio Colombo
(m. 1983; div. 1991)
Partner(s)Maurizio Gucci (1990–1995; his death)[1]
Children1

Paola Franchi (born 17 November 1953) is an Italian interior designer, artist, author and former model.[1] Her 2010 autobiography L'amore strappato ("The broken love") details her relationship with Italian businessman Maurizio Gucci, who was murdered in 1995 while they were a couple.[2]

Early life and relationship with Maurizio Gucci[]

Franchi was born in Milan in 1953. She attended Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera.[3] Franchi was a childhood friend of Italian businessman Maurizio Gucci and attended his wedding to Patrizia Reggiani in 1972.[4] In 1983, Franchi married copper industrialist Giorgio Colombo.[4][5] Their son Charly was born in 1985.[6]

In 1990, Franchi began dating Gucci after encountering each other at a private club in Saint Moritz.[1][4] Both reeling from unhappy marriages, Franchi became Gucci's live-in partner for five years, sharing a luxury apartment in Corso Venezia, Milan.[7][8] When Gucci's divorce from Reggiani was finalized in 1994, they began plans to get married on Gucci's Saint Moritz estate in Switzerland.[9][4]

In 1995, Maurizio Gucci was gunned down by a hired hitman. The day after the murder, Franchi received an eviction order from Reggiani to move out of the luxury apartment she shared with Gucci. The order was written less than three hours after Maurizio's death. When Franchi moved out, Reggiani moved in with her two daughters. She lived there for two years until her arrest in 1997.[7] In 1998, Patrizia Reggiani was sentenced to 29 years in prison for arranging the killing.[10] According to prosecutors, Reggiani was jealous of Franchi and wanted to prevent her from marrying Gucci. The marriage would have cut Reggiani's alimony in half.[11][12]

Personal life[]

In 2001, Franchi's 16-year-old son Charly Colombo took his own life. Franchi is heavily involved in the charity "L’Amico Charly,” which was set up in memory of her son to help troubled or suicidal teens.[6][8]

In 2016, she denied claims she dated Gucci because of his fortune: "Actually my previous husband, whom I left for Maurizio, was even richer, so it was all nonsense."[8]

In popular culture[]

In the film House of Gucci (2021), Paola Franchi is played by French actress Camille Cottin.[13]

Bibliography[]

  • L'amore strappato. Rizzoli Publisher. 2010. ISBN 9788817043113. (autobiography)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "'Black Widow' hounded Gucci heir, then had him shot". The Times. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Paola Franchi". Saatchi Art. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Magic Colllection by Paola Franchi" (PDF). Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "LA STANCHEZZA DI LADY GUCCI". October 27, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Paola Franchi" (PDF). Vanity Fairy. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Maurizio Gucci & Paula Franchi". Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "FAMIGLIA". Design & Fashion Magazine. 22 September 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "The Gucci wife and the hitman: fashion's darkest tale". The Guardian. 24 July 2016 – via www.theguardian.com.
  9. ^ "Maurizio Gucci's ex-wife says she was 'very happy' after slaying: 'I am not guilty, but I am not innocent'". 17 July 2018.
  10. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (4 November 1998). "Former Wife Given 29 Years for Ordering Gucci Slaying". The New York Times..
  11. ^ "Crime of Fashion: Gucci Killer to Go Free". The Daily Beast. 16 May 2014 – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  12. ^ "Gucci Murder Case To Go to Jury". AP. 2 November 1998 – via www.apnews.com.
  13. ^ "House of Gucci Cast vs. Real Life". E!. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
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