From a Milanese orphanage to the pinnacle of the global luxury industry, the Del Vecchio family embodies one of Italy’s most spectacular industrial sagas. Behind the global success of Luxottica—now EssilorLuxottica—stands a visionary patriarch : Leonardo Del Vecchio.
Leonardo Del Vecchio initially had nothing in common with the luxury magnate he would become. His father died before he was born; his mother, unable to raise her children alone, placed him in an orphanage. He then became an apprentice at a very young age in a metal tool factory in Milan before conquering a vast market: that of eyewear.
The invisible king of eyewear
In 1961, at the age of just 26, he founded the company Luxottica in Agordo, in the heart of Italy’s optics region. Leonardo Del Vecchio understood before anyone else that eyeglasses were no longer merely a medical necessity, but a fashion accessory and a symbol of social status.
Over the decades, Leonardo Del Vecchio built a vertically integrated empire unique in the luxury industry: he controlled manufacturing, distribution, and the brands. Under his leadership, Luxottica acquired or operated brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley while signing licensing agreements with the world’s leading international fashion houses. The company also acquired retail chains and gradually established itself as the global leader in the sector.
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Featured photo : © Fondation Leonardo Del Vecchio
