Trailer

The Agnellis have been called Italy’s ‘uncrowned kings’. They created the car company Fiat, which has been at the heart of Italy’s industrial, economic and cultural life for more than a hundred years. Gianni Agnelli inherited Fiat from his grandfather and went on to transform it into a global industrial empire. For many years he was seen as being a jet-setting playboy, driving fast cars and mixing with Hollywood stars. His funeral was attended by then Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and sports stars, including racing driver Michael Schumacher. But since Gianni’s death the Agnelli family has fractured, raising questions about whether they can maintain control. Now, the current Chairman John Elkann is locked in a dispute with his mother over the estate, which could have a huge impact on the way the family’s affairs are arranged. Hit by a series of tragedies and buffeted by political winds, which members of the Agnelli family will succeed in steering the huge conglomerate? Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Series producer: Simon Tulett Producer: Bob Howard Fact-checkers: Adriana Urbano and Randa Darwish Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Series editor: Matt Willis With special thanks to Jennifer Clark, Michele Masneri, Rachel Sanderson, Andrea Colli, and, also, Octavia Woodward. Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green Commissioning editor: Jon Manel Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production