The Last Line of Gucci

A love triangle was at the heart of a fashion icon’s murder.

Photo Credit: Public Domain

The gloved hand appeared out of nowhere on that March 1995 morning. Just like it happens in the old movies or on TV. Three shots were fired. Maurizio Gucci fell to the ground and took his last breath.

There was just one witness to the crime, Giuseppe Onorato. Onorato was the doorman for Gucci’s office building. Even now it boggles his mind that someone would want his friend dead. In his own words; “Mr. Gucci arrived carrying some magazines and said good morning,” seems like just another morning at the office. Except what happened next. “Then I saw a hand. It was a beautiful, clean hand, and it was pointing a gun.”

And Gucci died an unfashionable death.

But who would want the fashion scion killed? The answer is closer to home than one would think.

The Ex-Wife

Patrizia Reggiani was the socialite of the 1%. As the wife of Maurizio Gucci, the world was her oyster. And she did love her seafood. Nobody worked the social circles quite as she did.

When the pair married in 1972, they were immediately named Italy’s celebrity power couple. Everyone wanted them at their parties and the pair enjoyed the prestige afforded to them. The gifts would be amplified in 1983.

Maurizo’s father, Rodolfo Gucci passed away. In his will, he left his stake in the fashion empire to his only son. This would prove to be the beginning of the end of his marriage to Patrizia. No longer was she his chief adviser on all things fashion, he didn’t want to hear a word about what she is to say.

He sold the company for $120 million and divorced Patrizia.

The Other Woman

Right after relieving himself of his wife, Maurizo moved in with another woman, Paola Franchi. Maurizio moved in with her and her son weeks after the divorce was finalized.

Many people, including Patrizia, thought of the new lady love as a gold digger. Paola denied those claims. In fact, she says she had no need for Maurizo’s money because her ex-husband had left her a ton of money.

Paola claims that Patrizia began stalking them. On top of that, the ex-wife allegedly made threats against Maurizo, which he shrugged off because of the daughters they shared.

The Psychic

As many wealthy women did, Patrizia believed in psychics. She believed in one so much that she had one on her payroll.

The paid psychic claimed that mere hours after Maurizo was declared dead, Patrizia had Paola and her son kicked out of the apartment they shared with Maurizio. Patrizia and her daughters moved into the apartment.

One day, the psychic had a crisis of conscience and went to the police. She claimed that Patrizia had masterminded the assignation of Maurizio Gucci. There was a hotel bellhop, the actual hitman, and of course a getaway driver.

With the testimony, Patrizia was arrested.

The Trial

The 1997 trial of Patrizia Reggiani was wild. The psychic friend who turned her in began claiming that killing Maurizio had been a project for years.

For her part, Patrizia didn’t do herself any favors. She would tell anyone that would listen that she wanted her ex-husband dead.

The jury heard witness after witness say the exact same thing. It did not take them long to come to the conclusion that Patrizia did indeed hire the hitman to kill Maurizio.

She was sentenced to 26 years behind bars. That was reduced on appeal to 18 years.

The Familial Fallout

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After she was released from prison in 2016, Patrizia found work with a jeweler. Far from being known as Lady Gucci, Patrizia has to fight to keep that job.

She was also forced to move in with her elderly mother. This drove her crazy as her mother found fault in everything she did and was fond of letting Patrizia know exactly where she went wrong. Perhaps committing to a murder for hire plot?

Daughters Alessandra and Allegra Gucci have cut ties with their mother. Patrizia has complained that she had yet to meet her two grandsons. She also noted that both daughters had cut her off financially.

And Patrizia says that she imagines if she were able to tell Maurizo that she loved him. His answer would be to say he does not feel the same way. Their relationship was not Gucci, as the saying goes.

The Movie

As the obsession with true crime continues to be profitable, a movie is being made about this story. Oscar-nominated actress Lady Gaga has been tapped to play Patrizia.

Ridley Scott has been tasked with producing and directing the film. It has been reported that things with the movie will move fast because the production company wants to capitalize on the 25th anniversary of the murder.