Inside Patrizia Reggiani's Marriage to Maurizio Gucci – A Love Story That Ended in Murder

The businessman's father was against his relationship with his former wife and even tried to stop the once power couple's wedding, but he did not succeed.

Maurizio Gucci was the final member of the Gucci family to lead the iconic fashion house before his life was tragically cut short. He had been married to former socialite Patrizia Reggiani, and together they had two daughters, Alessandra and Allegra Gucci.

The Murder That Shocked Milan

In March 1995, people across Italy were shocked when 46-year-old Maurizio was shot and killed in the entryway of his office in Milan. The bold, daytime attack stunned the city's fashion world.

His ex-wife, Patrizia, became a suspect right away. She had once been called the "Liz Taylor of luxury labels" and was known for threatening Maurizio after their breakup. Still, there was no proof, and the case stayed open for almost two years. In 1997, a tip finally led to her arrest, along with four others, including the man who pulled the trigger.

The story didn't end with her arrest — what came next added even more headlines. Patrizia was sentenced to 26 years in prison after an appeal. But when she became eligible for early release in 2011, she shocked many by refusing it.

Reports in the Italian press said she turned it down because she was expected to find a job. She reportedly told her lawyer:

"I've never worked in my life and I don't intend to start now."

Several years later, Patrizia made headlines once again. In 2016, she walked free after spending 18 years behind bars for arranging Maurizio's murder. She continued to insist she had been framed, blaming a close friend for the entire plot.

One day, while at work in Milan as a design consultant, she was caught off guard by a camera crew from a sensational Italian TV show. The reporter asked, "Patrizia, why did you hire a hitman to kill Maurizio Gucci? Why didn't you shoot him yourself?" She gave a shocking reply:

"My eyesight is not so good. I didn't want to miss."

A Father's Disapproval from the Start

Long before the tragedy, tension was already brewing. Maurizio's father, Rodolfo Gucci, disliked Patrizia from the start. He saw her as a flashy social climber who wore cocktail dresses and fur coats to class after long nights out.

At just 22, Maurizio was still living at home. Since his mother Sandra Ravel had died when he was five, Rodolfo had raised him alone — and guarded him closely. Their quiet life shifted when Patrizia stepped in.

Maurizio first crossed paths with her at a party in Milan in November 1970. Though they moved in the same social crowd, the two couldn't have been more different.

Maurizio was shy and tall, while Patrizia, small in stature, lit up every room she walked into. Her striking purple eyes often earned her comparisons to Elizabeth Taylor. Even so, Rodolfo remained wary and never warmed to her.

The father of one had strong feelings about Patrizia — and he didn't hide them. "This isn't about love, this is about her wanting to get her hands on our money. But she won't!" he reportedly yelled. "I will disinherit you! You will not get a cent from me, and neither will she!"

After hearing those words, Maurizio packed his bags and walked out. The father and son stayed out of touch for years.

After leaving home, Maurizio stayed with Patrizia's family and worked in their trucking business. She believed he was meant to lead Gucci. By April 1971, Aldo Gucci hinted in the New York Times that a younger family member should take charge.

As talk about the future of the company grew louder, Maurizio and Patrizia went ahead with their plans. They married on October 28, 1972, even though Rodolfo tried to stop the wedding.

Years later, their rocky beginning was nothing compared to how it ended. The couple divorced in 1994, just one year before Maurizio was killed. On the day of his death, Patrizia wrote one word in her diary, in Greek and all caps, "PARADISE."