Flavio Briatore A famous Italian businessman whose fortune is estimated at 150 million US dollars. Date of Birth: 12.04.1950 Country: Italy

1. Early Life
2. Association with Benetton
3. Success with Benetton
4. Conflict and Departure from Benetton
5. Supertec and Return to Benetton
6. Success with Renault
7. Personal Life

Early Life

Flaviano Briatore was born on April 12, 1950, in the Alpine town of Verzuolo, Italy. After graduating from Fasino de Busca Institute with a degree in land surveying, he briefly worked as a ski instructor in the Alps before establishing a restaurant called "Tribùla."

Association with Benetton

Briatore soon gained prominence as a restaurant manager and became a partner of restaurant magnate Attilio Dutto. Following Dutto's murder, he relocated to Milan and ventured into stock market trading, where he met Luciano Benetton. Briatore served as Benetton's U.S. manager, overseeing a chain of clothing stores.

In 1985, the Benetton family acquired the Toleman Formula 1 team, renaming it "Benetton" and replacing its management. Briatore was appointed as the team's director in 1988 and began actively recruiting new talent.

Success with Benetton

Briatore brought in John Barnard as the team's technical director but was dissatisfied with the performance of their cars. He replaced Barnard with Tom Walkinshaw and later Ross Brawn. Briatore also poached Michael Schumacher from Jordan, a move that proved successful. Schumacher won his first championship in 1994, and Benetton took the Constructors' Championship in 1995.

Conflict and Departure from Benetton

Schumacher and Brawn moved to Ferrari in 1996, while Benetton acquired Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger as replacements. The team won a few more races, but Briatore's relationship with Alesi deteriorated, leading to the Frenchman's departure. The Benetton family, dissatisfied with the team's performance, relieved Briatore of his duties.

Supertec and Return to Benetton

Despite leaving Benetton, Briatore remained involved in Formula 1. He established Supertec in 1998, which continued to supply Renault V10 engines to Formula 1 teams, including his former colleagues at Benetton.

In 2001, Renault and the Benetton family agreed to sell the struggling Benetton team. Halfway through the season, Renault appointed Briatore as the team's manager once again.

Success with Renault

Briatore set ambitious goals of winning the World Championship, relying on his protégé Jarno Trulli and the young test driver Fernando Alonso. Trulli left the team in 2004, and Alonso became the team's lead driver. Under Briatore's leadership, Renault won the Constructors' Championship in 2005 and 2006, while Alonso captured the Drivers' Championship.

Personal Life

Briatore's personal life has been a topic of tabloid fascination due to his high-profile relationships with top models. He dated Naomi Campbell and has a daughter, Leni, with Heidi Klum.