Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, 31-year-old son of Essilor Luxottica’s late founder, gave a candid podcast interview admitting to drug struggles, claiming he slept with over 2,000 women, and saying his father provided wealth but not love. He rejected the 'nepo baby' label, criticized most billionaires as 'idiots', and offered to sell one of his two yachts. Del Vecchio said he was advised against the interview but hoped his honesty would help others battling addiction, crediting fatherhood for helping him confront his benzodiazepine dependence.
The revelations followed his departure from executive roles at Essilor Luxottica and a growing feud with CEO Francesco Milleri, his father’s chosen successor. He warned that if Milleri fails to deliver results and the company drops 50% in value, he would not stand by, despite stepping back from management. Delfin, the family holding company chaired by Milleri, owns over 32% of Essilor Luxottica and has seen its net asset value fall from ~€50bn to €40bn since 2025.
Delfin recently backed Intesa Sanpaolo’s €30bn bid for Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Del Vecchio disclosed over €1bn in personal debt from outside investments and is under investigation for allegedly fleeing a November 2025 Ferrari crash in Milan, though he insists he still holds his driving licence.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing