Ray-Ban Dynasty Heir Seeks Majority Control Amid Family Fortune Feud

The heirs of Leonardo Del Vecchio, the founder of Luxottica and the man behind the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands, are embroiled in a multi-billion dollar succession battle that has spilled into the courts. Del Vecchio, who died in June 2022 leaving an estate estimated at $25.5 billion, structured his will to divide his controlling stake in the family's holding company, Delfin, among his six children and widow, creating an eight-way split of the company's shares.

Navigating the Inheritance

The distribution of Del Vecchio's fortune and the ensuing inheritance tax payments proved complex, leading to delays in estate finalization. The heirs opted to accept the inheritance 'with benefit of inventory,' a legal process allowing them to assess assets and debts before committing. By September 2023, Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, one of the sons, expressed public embarrassment over the family's inability to finalize the succession. In early 2024, reports indicated the family was nearing a new agreement on estate management, with some heirs seeking revised internal rules to facilitate the sale of stakes.

A Bid for Majority Control

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, who currently works for the company and holds the position of president of Ray-Ban, has emerged as a key player in the ongoing dispute. He has proposed a plan to become the majority shareholder of Delfin by acquiring the combined 25 percent stake held by his siblings Luca and Paola. This acquisition, if successful and financed through an estimated $11.5 billion in loans from financial institutions, would increase Leonardo Maria's total holding to 37.5 percent.

However, his half-brother, Rocco Basilico, has legally challenged some of Delfin's proposals, aiming to block Leonardo Maria's move towards majority control. While a provisional agreement was reached between the half-brothers, Leonardo Maria later cited concerns regarding 'sustainability and risk allocation' in a letter addressed to Delfin's leadership, questioning the timing and justification of the raised concerns ahead of a shareholders' meeting.

Delfin's influence extends beyond eyewear; it holds significant stakes in major Italian companies including the insurer Generali, UniCredit, and Monte dei Paschi, Italy's third-largest bank. This broad industry sway makes the control of Delfin a high-stakes prize.

Personal Lives and Legal Entanglements

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio's personal life has also garnered public attention. He was briefly married to Anna Castellini Baldissera, with whom he later divorced. In July 2023, he became engaged to actress and model Jessica Serfaty, but the engagement was called off weeks later. Serfaty had previously made accusations of abuse on social media, which she later retracted, stating they were driven by anger and not truth.

He is currently dating Polish content creator and model Kornelia Ski, with whom he has been seen at various high-profile events. IMAGE1

Meanwhile, Rocco Basilico, who also worked within the family business as EssilorLuxottica's chief wearables officer, departed the company in January 2026 to pursue personal interests.

Other family members maintain varying degrees of public profiles. Claudio Del Vecchio, the eldest son, previously led Luxottica and later acquired Brooks Brothers, which eventually filed for bankruptcy. Clemente Del Vecchio gained recognition as the world's youngest billionaire at age 19 upon his father's death.

Amidst these familial and business conflicts, Leonardo Maria was also reportedly involved in an ongoing investigation concerning a Milan-based private intelligence firm, Equalize, for alleged illegal information gathering and potential extortion. He claimed to have been misled by the firm.