Silvio Berlusconi, born on September 29, 1936, is a prominent Italian politician and businessman, currently serving as Italy's Prime Minister. He is often referred to by his nickname, Il Cavaliere, which translates to "The Knight," a title he earned in 1977 when he was awarded the Order of Merit for Labour.
Berlusconi is notable for being the second longest-serving Prime Minister in Italy's history, following Benito Mussolini. His tenure in this role has spanned three distinct periods: first from 1994 to 1995, then from 2001 to 2006, and currently since 2008. His leadership has seen him sworn in four times, including during cabinet reshuffles that required votes of confidence. He founded the centre-right political party, the People of Freedom, in 2009, and as of November of that year, he was recognized as the longest-serving leader among G8 nations.
His political journey has been marked by rapid ascension and controversy. Berlusconi first became a Member of Parliament and Prime Minister after the March 1994 elections when his party, Forza Italia, achieved a relative majority just three months post-launch. Although his first cabinet fell apart after seven months due to coalition disputes, he returned to power in the 2001 elections, defeating Francesco Rutelli. After narrowly losing the 2006 elections to Romano Prodi, Berlusconi won again in 2008, following the collapse of Prodi's government, and was sworn in on May 8, 2008. By 2011, Forbes listed him as the 118th richest individual globally, with a net worth of $7.8 billion.
