There is nothing we love more than seeing some of our favorite stars decked out in 1980s garb. House of Gucci has recently hit theatres, starring Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani and Adam Driver as Maurizio Gucci. The film is based on the real-life murder of Maurizio Gucci that was organized by his ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani. Here we look at how the actors in House of Gucci stacked up to their real-life counterparts and walk you through the crazy story that is the House of Gucci.
Patrizia Reggiani
The iconic actress and singer Lady Gaga portrays Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci. Despite coming from humble beginnings, Reggiani rose through the ranks of Milan society. She married Maurizio Gucci in 1972 and came to be dubbed as “Lady Gucci” in the Italian press.
The couple had two daughters together, but Maurizio Gucci wound up leaving Patrizia for a younger woman. In January 1997, Patrizia was arrested for arranging her husband’s death and was sentenced to 26 years on appeal in 1998. She ended being in prison for a total of 14 years.
In 2014, Patrizia took a job at Milanese costume jewelry, where, on her first day of work, the paparazzi asked her why she didn’t kill Maurizio Gucci herself. She responded that “my eyesight is not so good. I didn’t want to miss.”
Maurizio Gucci
Actor Adam Driver portrays the one-time head of Gucci fashion house, Maurizio Gucci. In 1972, the same year that Maurizio Gucci married Patrizia Reggiani, he moved to New York City to work for Gucci with his uncle Aldo Gucci (who also appears in the film).
In 1983, Maurizio launched a major legal war against his uncle, Aldo, to control Gucci after becoming Gucci’s majority shareholder following his father’s death. In 1989, he was made the chairman of the Gucci group, but with the company being in major financial trouble, Maurizio was ultimately blamed for spending outrageous amounts of money. In 1993, he sold his remaining stock in Gucci, which ended the family’s association with the company.
Maurizio separated from Patrizia Reggiani in 1985, and began dating a woman named Paola Franchi in 1990. When his divorce was finalized from Patrizia in 1994, he planned to marry Paola Franchi. However, he was murdered by a gunman on March 27, 1995, before marrying Paola.
Paolo Gucci
Actor Jared Leto is almost unrecognizable as Maurizio Gucci’s cousin, Paolo Gucci. He served as the vice president and managing director of Gucci in 1953, but he was fired by his uncle a year later. After he left the family company, he attempted to launch a brand under his own name.
Ultimately, Paolo’s scheme didn’t go as planned, and he spent nearly eight million trying to be legally allowed to use his name for his brand.
In 1987, Paolo was granted the right to use his own name for his clothing line. However, not long after he was won this ongoing battle, he decided to sell his interest in the company for $45 million. In 1995, at age 64, he passed away from chronic hepatitis.
Rodolfo Gucci
Actor Jeremy Irons plays actor turned businessman Rodolfo Gucci. His only child, Maurizio Gucci, was named after his stage name, Maurizio D’Ancora.
Rodolfo Gucci was one of the five sons of the founder of the House of Gucci, Guccio Gucci. Rodolfo is perhaps best known for creating the Gucci Flora scarf for actress Grace Kelly in 1967. Rodolfo Gucci passed away in 1983 in Milan.
Aldo Gucci
Al Pacino portrays Guccio Gucci’s eldest son, Aldo Gucci, in House of Gucci. From 1953 to 1986, Aldo Gucci was the chairman of Gucci.
Aldo Gucci helped Gucci become a status symbol after their bamboo-handled Gucci umbrella and bag was debuted by Ingrid Bergman in Roberto Rossellini’s 1954 film Viaggio in Italia. He went on to open Gucci Shops in Chicago, Palm Beach, and Beverly Hills and introduced the Gucci brand to Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Aldo was responsible for coming up with Gucci’s iconic logo for interlocking double G’s, which is known worldwide today. In January 1986, Aldo was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for tax evasion. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 84 from complications from prostate cancer.
Domenico De Sole
Actor Jack Huston portrays Domenico De Sole in House of Gucci. De Sole was made partner at a Washington D.C. law firm named Patton, Boggs & Blow, which specialized in tax law. In the ’80s, one of his clients was Gucci, and he helped them with corporate restructuring.
In 1984, Rodolfo Gucci convinced De Sole to join as CEO of Gucci America. From 1994 to 2004, De Sole was the president and CEO of Gucci Group. Since 2005, De Sole has been chairman of Tom Ford International.
Tom Ford
Reeve Carney plays American fashion designer Tom Ford in House of Gucci. In 1994, he was made the Creative Director at Gucci. In this role, he saw sales at Gucci increase by 90% between 1995 and 1996. By 1999, the House of Gucci was valued at more than four billion dollars. To put this in perspective, the brand was nearly bankrupt when Ford originally joined. He left Gucci in 2004, and he launched his own label in 2006.
Sophia Loren
Despite not having a major role in House of Gucci, actress Mădălina Diana Ghenea shares an uncanny resemblance to Sophia Loren. In the film, Ghenea as Loren is escorted by Aldo Gucci (Al Pacino) into a Gucci boutique.