Brunello Cucinelli (born September 3, 1953 at Castel Rigone) is an Italian fashion designer and eponymous chief executive of his brand, Brunello Cucinelli. He donates up to 20% of his profits through the Brunello Cucinelli Foundation.

Early life and career

Cucinelli grew up in a rural agricultural community outside of Perugia. His childhood home had no electricity or running water. Cucinelli dropped out of engineering school at age 24, choosing instead to read philosophical texts on his own. Cucinelli’s first product was cashmere sweaters in bright colors. He founded Brunello Cucinelli SpA in 1978 with the Italian lira equivalent of about $550; after the initial public offering of Brunello Cucinelli SpA his personal net worth exceeded $1 billion.

Awards and honors

• Leonardo Prize
• Honorary degree in philosophy and human relationships ethics from University of Perugia
• Cavaliere del lavoro – Italian Order of Merit for Labour in 2010
• Premio Guido Carli, 2011
• Pitti Immagine Uomo prize
• Fashion Group International, Fashion Star Honoree Award, October 2014

Personal life

Cucinelli is married to his hometown sweetheart Federica, and the couple have two daughters: Camilla and Carolina. Cucinelli cites the Meditations by Marcus Aurelius as a book that has strongly influenced him. His personal style icons are Gianni Agnelli and John F. Kennedy Jr. On the wall in his office are images of Socrates, Confucius, Constantine, Palladio, Dostoyevsky, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Kafka, John F Kennedy, and the Pope. Esquire magazine named him among the top ten best dressed men alive in 2017.