For Santo Versace, life unfolds in cycles rather than straight lines. At 81, he speaks of a “fourth life,” newly begun and dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable. In his Roman office, surrounded by notes and diagrams, he oversees the work of the Santo Versace Foundation, established in 2021 with his wife, lawyer Francesca De Stefano, to turn solidarity into a sustainable system.

A man of numbers and foresight, Versace was the quiet strategist behind the global rise of the fashion house founded by his brother Gianni. He understood its industrial potential, managed its expansion and safeguarded its future after Gianni’s assassination in 1997. Today, he views fashion from a distance, arguing that what truly matters is not ownership but who produces and how, noting that Italian excellence often thrives even under foreign capital.

His focus has shifted decisively toward social impact. Charity alone, he insists, is not enough: people must be empowered through education, skills and work. The foundation’s projects—from supporting young mothers in Kenya to inclusive cultural initiatives—are designed to create long-term human value, not short-term aid.

Critical of a political system he sees as overly professionalised, Versace still believes politics should represent “the highest form of charity,” echoing Pope Paul VI. He speaks candidly about inequality, waste and privilege, while remaining convinced that Italy is a deeply wealthy country held back by mismanagement rather than lack of resources. In Calabria, his homeland, he is backing an innovation hub aimed at retaining talent and fostering sustainable development.

If offered a public role, Versace says he would choose culture above all else. It is there, he believes, that Italy’s true strength lies—and where renewal, much like his own life, is always possible.