Paolo Bulgari

Paolo Bulgari, a great grandson of the founder of luxury jeweler Bulgari, joined the company when he was 18, lured by his father to design necklaces, rings, and bracelets despite being enrolled as a law student. Paolo personally designed jewelry for generations of Hollywood actresses from Elizabeth Taylor to Nicole Kidman, and became chairman of Bulgari in 1984, while his brother Nicola took on the role of vice chairman and their nephew, Franesco Trapani, acted as chief executive. In 2011, with Bulgari established as a global luxury brand offering not only jewelry but also watches, fragrances, apparel, and even hotels and resorts, the family sold its controlling to stake to French billionaire Bernard Arnault's luxury goods giant LVMH in a deal then valued at $5.2 billion in stock and cash. Paolo sits on the LVMH advisory board.