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| Aurelio De Laurentiis | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aurelio De Laurentiis |
| Birth date | 1957-05-24 |
| Birth place | Naples, Italy |
| Occupation | Film producer, businessman, football executive |
| Known for | Film production, SSC Napoli |
Aurelio De Laurentiis is an Italian film producer and businessman who has been prominent in Italian cinema and professional football since the late 20th century. He founded and managed film production companies and has served as president of a major Serie A club, combining roles in entertainment, sport, and media. His activities intersect with notable figures and institutions in European film and football.
Born in Naples in 1957, he is the son of film producer Luigi De Laurentiis and the nephew of producer Dino De Laurentiis, linking him to the legacy of Italian cinema associated with studios such as Cinecittà and industry figures including Federico Fellini, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Luchino Visconti. He grew up amid the postwar cultural milieu of Campania and attended educational institutions connected to the University of Naples Federico II and professional training environments frequented by technicians who later collaborated with producers like Roberto Rossellini and Michelangelo Antonioni. Early influences included interactions with representatives of distributors such as Rai and private firms connected to the Italian film market like Golden Age of Italian Cinema veterans and European counterparts including executives from Gaumont and Pathé.
He entered film production in the 1980s and established production companies that operated alongside studios in Rome and international partners in Los Angeles and Paris. His companies produced comedies and genre films featuring directors and actors associated with Paolo Sorrentino, Roberto Benigni, Sophia Loren, Monica Bellucci, and screenwriters who had worked with producers like Carlo Ponti and Gianni Amelio. He navigated distribution channels including Mediaset and international festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival. Collaborations extended to production houses like StudioCanal and independent networks that included executives from Miramax and associations such as the European Film Academy. His portfolio encompasses mainstream Italian comedies, adaptations, and co-productions with television networks like RAI and streaming-era partners connected to multinational media groups such as Vivendi.
He acquired the bankrupt Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli in 2004, taking leadership amid the aftermath of the club's financial collapse and restructuring under Italian sporting law frameworks including FIGC regulations and Serie C reformation. Under his presidency Napoli returned from lower divisions to Serie A and European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, recruiting managers and players associated with figures like Carlo Ancelotti, Maurizio Sarri, Gennaro Gattuso, Diego Maradona's legacy having shaped the club's modern brand alongside contemporary stars such as Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Dries Mertens. Stadium projects and commercial ventures engaged municipal authorities in Naples and infrastructure stakeholders similar to those involved with clubs like Juventus F.C. at the Allianz Stadium. His tenure featured sporting directors and executives with links to Walter Sabatini and Leonardo Araújo, and negotiations involving sponsors from multinational firms resembling MSC Cruises and apparel partnerships akin to Kappa and Nike.
Beyond film and football, his investments span production facilities, broadcasting rights negotiations, and merchandising operations tied to sports and entertainment markets, interacting with media conglomerates such as Sky Italia, Warner Bros., and pan-European distributors like Vivendi. He has overseen commercial deals, licensing arrangements, and joint ventures with corporate partners resembling FIAT Chrysler Automobiles and shipping firms comparable to MSC, while engaging talent agencies and event promoters operating in circuits shared with institutions like La Scala and international festivals. His companies have participated in co-financing structures used by European producers and collaborated with financial advisors and investment vehicles active in the Borsa Italiana environment.
He belongs to a family with deep roots in Italian production circles, connected by kinship to producers like Dino De Laurentiis and to figures from Italian cultural life including performers who performed at venues such as Teatro di San Carlo. Personal residences and business bases have been in Rome and Naples, with social and philanthropic interactions involving foundations and cultural institutions in Campania and national initiatives that sometimes include collaborations with personalities from Italian television and cinema, such as presenters and actors affiliated with RAI and Mediaset programming.
His public profile has been shaped by disputes over club management, contract negotiations involving high-profile managers comparable to controversies seen at clubs like Inter Milan and AC Milan, and media commentary surrounding transfer dealings and stadium plans. He has engaged in public exchanges with sports journalists from outlets like La Gazzetta dello Sport and broadcasters in the Sky Italia and Mediaset ecosystems, and faced scrutiny in context of regulatory compliance with sporting authorities including FIGC and financial oversight similar to cases examined by UEFA in broader club licensing discussions. His image oscillates between celebrated reviver of a historic club and a polarizing executive in Italian media and fan communities.
Category:Italian film producers Category:Italian football chairmen and investors