Editor's Notes:

Since becoming Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi has endured 105 judicial probes and trials and 2,500 court hearings and spent over $409 million U.S. dollars in legal fees defending himself against allegations, according to a report of Bloomberg Businessweek on February 16.

In May, 2009, Berlusconi' wife Veronica Lario announced she was divorcing him, saying she could not remain with a man "who consorts with minors". In June, Berlusconi's naked party photos hit most headlines worldwide. In December the same year, a man threw a small replica of Milan's Cathedral at Berlusconi's face and also threw him into hospital. >>

Photos: Berlusconi's women

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing a political crisis.	His wife Veronica Lario	Model Noemi Letizia
Patrizia D'Addario	Call girl Nadia Macri	Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby

 

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Berlusconi's family background:

Berlusconi was born in Milan in 1936 and grew up in a lower middle-class family. His father, Luigi Berlusconi (1908–1989) was a bank employee, and his mother, Rosa Bossi (1911–2008), was a housewife. Berlusconi was the first of the family's three children. >>

 

 

Berlusconi's political life:

Silvio Berlusconi entered politics in 1994 as founder of the center-right Forza Italia (Go Italy) party, and before the 2008 general election, he launched the new political party People of Freedom in February, which merged Forza Italia with National Alliance and other liberal and conservative parties. >>

 

 

Berlusconi's business career:

The 75-year-old Italian leader owns businesses spanning television, newspapers, publishing, cinema, finance, banking, insurance and even Italy's most successful football club, AC Milan. >>