Flavio Briator is a well-known Italian businessman who ranks among the most influential people in Formula 1. Born on April 12, 1950, the 74-year-old Italian magnate is best known for managing two of history’s most influential Formula One racing teams. Flavio began his career as a restaurant manager and insurance salesman before switching to sports as a manager of the Benetton F1 team, who famously had the legendary Michael Schumacher as their driver when he was up and coming. With a successful and incredible career, Flavio Briatore has earned good wealth, placing him among the wealthiest people in Italy. Surprised? Learn more about Flavio Briatore’s inspiring story from his early life, career beginning, struggles, controversies, net worth, personal life, and more.
Some Unknown Facts About Flavio Briatore
- Flavio dated Heidi Klum from May 2003 to January 2004.
- During the 1980s, he worked for Benetton Clothes in the United States.
- Flavio was the F1 team Benetton manager in the 1990s and the Renault team from 2002.
- In 2tge009, Flavio resigned from the Renault F1 team.
Early Life and Education
Flavio Briatore was born on April 12, 1950, in Verzuolo, Italy, into a family of elementary school teachers. According to his birthday, he was born under the Taurus astrological sign. Raised Catholic, Flavio holds Italian nationality and is of mixed ancestry. As a teenager, Falvio failed twice in public school, which made him attend the private independent school Fassino di Busca, where he got a diploma with the lowest grades in land surveying. Flavio started his early career as a ski instructor and restaurant manager.
He later opened his restaurant, Tribüla, which was Briatore’s nickname. However, the restaurant business was unsuccessful for him and had to close due to excessive debt. Flavio relocated to Cunes in the 1970s and worked as an assistant to businessman Attilio Dutto, owner of the Paramatti Vernici paint company. On March 21, 1979, Dutto was killed in a car bomb attack by an unknown perpetrator. From there, he moved to Milan and started working for Finanziaria Generale Italia at the Italian stock exchange.
Quick Wikipedia
Quick Biography | Answers |
Birthday | April 12, 1950 |
Full Name | Flavio Briatore |
Hometown | Verzuolo, Italy |
Lives In | N/A |
Net Worth | $400 million |
Horoscope/Birth Sign | Taurus |
Age | 74 years old |
Stage Name | Flavio Briatore |
Profession | Businessman |
Father’s Name | Giacomo Briatore |
Mother’s Name | Caterian Chiotti |
Number of Children | 2 |
Children’s Name | N/A |
Husband/Boyfriend | N/A |
Wife/Girlfriend | Elisabetta Gregoraci (m. 2008–2017), Marcy Schlobohm (m. 1983–1987) |
Birth Year | 1950 |
TikTok | @briatoreflavio_ |
Facebook Handle | @Flavio Briatore |
YouTube Handle | N/A |
Twitter/X Handle | @KaylaniLive |
Instagram Handle | @Flavio Briatore |
Snapchat Handle | N/A |
Height | 6 fEEt 2 inches (188 cm) |
Body Measurements | N/A |
Feet/Shoe Size | N/A |
Color of Eye | Brown |
Movies Starred | N/A |
References | Wikipedia, Celebrity Net Worth, & IMBD |

Career
Formula 1 Career
Flavio Briatore made his Formula One debut in the Australian Grand Prix in 1988. Luciano Benetton then recruited him as business director of his team, Benetton Formula Ltd. When the team’s management was briefly ousted, Flavio was promoted to managing director and set to work, transforming Benetton into a competitive squad. Flavio hired young up-and-coming driver Michael Schumacher and formed a team around him to accomplish this.
Schumacher won the Belgian Grand Prix in 1992 and the Portuguese Grand Prix in 1993 before capturing the World Drivers’ Championship in 1994 and 1995. The Benetton team won first place in the World Constructors’ Championship last year. In the mid-1990s, Flavio purchased the struggling Ligier team and took over total control of Benetton. Schumacher and numerous influential technical staffers soon left the team, causing Benetton’s status to decline.
Flavio was eventually replaced by David Richards at Benetton in 1997. In the years that followed, he led the engine firm Supertec. He purchased the Benetton Formula Team in 2000 and renamed it Renault F1. Flavio managed drivers Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Jarno Trulli, all of whom won Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in 2005 and 2006.
Business Interest
Beyond Formula One, Flavio has pursued many other commercial activities. In 1998, he founded the Billionaire nightclub brand, followed by the Billionaire Italian couture collection. In 2004, he opened Cipriani’s restaurant in London, where he previously owned nearly half of the pharmaceutical company Pierrel. Flavio’s other properties and investments include a holiday resort in Kenya and a beach club in Tuscany.
Net Worth and Career Earnings
How rich is Flavio Briatore? Flavio Briatore’s success in Formula One and his career as an Italian businessman have contributed to his enormous net worth. As of this writing, Flavio Briatore has a net worth of $400 million. From his humble career, Flavios’s career reflects his hard work and dedication to his job, placing him among the wealthiest personalities in Italy.

Criminal Charges
Flavio Briatore was convicted of numerous fraud charges in the 1980s. In 1984, he was fined and sentenced to one year and six months in prison, though his term was eventually reduced to one year. Flavio was convicted again in 1986 and sentenced to three years in prison for fraud and conspiracy in connection with multiple gambling games he helped rig.
In 1987, he filed an appeal, and his sentence was reduced to one year and two months. Flavio resided as a fugitive in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, to avoid imprisonment. He never went to jail and returned to the European Union after his convictions were expunged under amnesty.
Personal Life
Flavio Briatore became engaged to supermodel Naomi Campbell in 1998. However, their relationship was on and off until they broke up in 2003. Subsequently, Flavio dated Heidi Klum, another supermodel, for a year and broke up. However, Heidi gave birth to their daughter, Leni Klum. 2008 saw Flavio Briatore and Elisabetta Gregoraci exchange their marriage vows. The couple had a son but broke up in 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How old is Flavio Briatore?
Ans: As of 2024, Flavio is 74 years old.
Q. How rich is Flavio Briatore?
Ans: He has a whopping net worth of $400 million.
Q. Is Flavio Briatore married?
Ans: Flavio was married to Elisabetta Gregoraci, an Italian fashion model and TV personality, for nine years, from 2008 to 2017.
Q. What happened to Flavio in 2008?
Ans: In 2008, Flavio Briatore was suspended for instructing Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash during the Singapore Grand Prix.