Born in Milan, he built his fortune in construction during the economic boom of the 1960s before founding Fininvest, a holding company that came to dominate Italy’s private television market through its Mediaset network. His rapid accumulation of wealth and control over media made him one of the most powerful entrepreneurs in post-war Europe.
Berlusconi’s name appeared in political investigations in 1981, when police uncovered his membership in Propaganda Due (P2), the secret Masonic lodge led by Licio Gelli. The P2 network had sought to exert covert influence over Italy’s political, military, and media institutions, and Berlusconi’s inclusion on its membership list reflected his early integration into elite circles that blurred the boundary between business and politics.
In 1994, Berlusconi founded Forza Italia, a new centre-right party that capitalised on the collapse of the traditional political order following the Tangentopoli corruption scandals. Campaigning as a self-made outsider who would modernise Italy through managerial efficiency, he became prime minister three times (1994–95, 2001–06, and 2008–11). His political style, marked by populist rhetoric, personal charisma, and the use of mass media to shape public opinion, anticipated broader trends in European and global right-wing populism.
Throughout his career, Berlusconi faced numerous legal proceedings for corruption, tax fraud, and conflicts of interest. Though often acquitted or shielded by statute limitations, these cases underscored the blurred line between his political authority and business empire. His governments advanced neoliberal economic reforms, strengthened ties with corporate interests, and promoted a conservative social agenda, while legitimising more far-right figures.
