Title: The Black Widow’s Revenge: The Twisted Tale of Patrizia Reggiani and the Gucci Murder
In a tale that could rival any Hollywood thriller, Patrizia Reggiani, the woman once known as ‘Lady Gucci,’ walked free in 2016 after serving only a portion of her 26-year prison sentence. Convicted for orchestrating the assassination of her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, she had earned the chilling nickname ‘Black Widow.’ But behind the luxury, betrayal, and murder lies a story of obsession, wealth, and bizarre twists that kept the world riveted.
She Never Stopped Being a Gucci—Even After Murder
The Gucci name, synonymous with power and prestige, traces back to 1920 when Guccio Gucci founded the empire in Florence, Italy. Maurizio Gucci, his grandson, once stood as the brand’s rightful heir—until he sold his shares for $120 million in 1993. That decision, some say, sealed his fate.
Patrizia Reggiani, despite their bitter divorce, refused to part with the Gucci identity. She continued to wear the label, flaunting it even during her high-profile murder trial. Ignoring legal orders to stop using the surname, she boldly declared in a 2014 interview, “I still feel like a Gucci—in fact, the most Gucci of them all.”
A Murder Foretold?
After Maurizio left her for a younger woman, Patrizia was left raising their two daughters alone. Her bitterness only deepened when he finalized their divorce in 1994. Just a year later, on the morning of March 27, 1995, Maurizio was gunned down in the lobby of his Milan office. The doorman who witnessed the shooting recalled, “It was a beautiful, clean hand pointing a gun.” The killer fired three shots into Gucci’s back and one into his skull, then turned the gun on the doorman before escaping.
Investigators would later reveal that Reggiani had paid a hitman, Benedetto Ceraulo, to execute the killing—with the help of an unlikely accomplice: her psychic, Pina Auriemma.
A Psychic, a Hitman, and a Black Widow’s Defense
During the trial, Reggiani painted herself as a victim, claiming that Auriemma had extorted money from her and framed her for murder. However, her pleas of innocence fell flat in court. The evidence was overwhelming, and in 1998, she was sentenced to 29 years behind bars.
Her bizarre behavior continued even in prison. She was allowed to keep her pet ferret, Bambi, with her—until tragedy struck. The unfortunate creature was reportedly crushed when an inmate accidentally sat on him.
“I’ve Never Worked a Day in My Life, and I Don’t Intend to Start Now”
Reggiani remained defiant throughout her incarceration. In 2011, she became eligible for parole under one condition: she had to find a job. Her response? “I’ve never worked in my life, and I don’t intend to start now.”
After her release in 2016, however, she did eventually take a job—as a design consultant for a Milanese jewelry brand. But her sharp tongue never dulled. When ambushed by reporters and asked why she hadn’t killed Maurizio herself, she quipped, “My eyesight is not so good. I didn’t want to miss.”
From Convicted Murderer to Millionaire Beneficiary
Perhaps the most jaw-dropping twist in Reggiani’s saga came after her release. Despite being convicted for her husband’s murder, an Italian court ruled that she was still entitled to an annual alimony of $1.2 million from Maurizio’s estate. With back payments from her time in prison, she walked away with over $20 million.
Where is Patrizia Reggiani Today?
Once the queen of Milan’s high society, Reggiani now leads a peculiar life. She lives modestly with her pet cat, frequently seen strolling upscale neighborhoods with a parrot perched on her shoulder. Though she has never admitted guilt, the Black Widow of Gucci remains an enduring symbol of wealth, scandal, and the dark side of high fashion.
A woman who orchestrated one of Italy’s most infamous crimes is now free, wealthy, and, in her own words, “the most Gucci of them all.”
