Silvio Berlusconi: 1936-2023
 
Sep 29, 1936: Born in Milan
  
1950s: While law student at Milan University, makes name singing in nightclubs and on cruise ships
  
1961: Graduates, starts construction company Edilnord. Makes fortune in residential property development in boom years
  
1965: Marries Carla Elvira Dall'Oglio. They have two children, but divorce in 1985
  
1973: Founds Telemilano, local cable TV company, later taking over Mediaset, Italy’s
biggest broadcaster
      
1986: Buys AC Milan, saving hometown club from bankruptcy
   
AC Milan reach eight European Cup/Champions League finals from 1988-2007, winning four

1993: Starts populist political party, Forza Italia

1994: Wins general election, becoming first prime minister never to have held government office. Coalition collapses after seven months, loses subsequent election

2001: Returns to power in Italy’s longest-serving government since war

2006: Loses election, ordered to stand trial for fraud at Mediaset

2008: Wins third term with People of Freedom (PDL) party
            
2011: Reports of “bunga-bunga” parties at private villa, including sex with underage
prostitute Karima El Mahroug
                
2011: Eurozone debt crisis, loses majority in parliament. Berlusconi resigns
     
2012: Convicted of tax fraud, barred from Senate
   
2013: Convicted of paying for sex with minor and abuse of power, overturned in 2014
   
2018: Court declares Berlusconi rehabilitated, wins seat in European Parliament in 2019
    
2022: Returns to power in coalition led by Giorgia Melloni

2023: Berlusconi dies aged 86 at San Raffaele hospital, Milan

      
Sources: Reuters, BBC 
Pictures: Getty Images, Newscom 
© GRAPHIC NEWS