The chair of Ferrari and Stellantis, John Elkann, has agreed to do one year of community service and jointly pay millions of euros to settle a dispute over inheritance tax in Italy.
Elkann and his siblings, Lapo and Ginerva, will pay €183m (£159m) to Italian tax authorities, as confirmed by several media reports citing Italian prosecutors.
Elkann's lawyer stated that the agreement does not entail an admission of liability from him or his siblings, describing the settlement as a chance to bring this painful affair to a swift and definitive close.
As a prominent member of one of Italy’s influential families—being the grandson of Gianni Agnelli, former head of Fiat—the tax dispute arises from the estate of his grandmother, Marella Caracciolo, who died in 2019.
Elkann is required to propose a venue for his community service, which could potentially involve assisting at a center for the elderly or helping those struggling with addiction.
Paolo Siniscalchi, the attorney for the Elkann family, explained that Elkann’s request for probation was made in context of the settlement with tax authorities and should not imply any acceptance of wrongdoing. If granted, it would allow for the suspension of charges against him, culminating in a dismissal of the investigation upon successful completion of his service, similar to outcomes requested for his siblings.
Prosecutors allege the Elkann siblings failed to declare about €1bn in assets and €248.5m in income, asserting their grandmother was a Swiss resident.
On Monday, prosecutors accepted the settlement agreement, seeking a judge’s approval to dismiss criminal charges against Elkann’s siblings.
This legal matter is part of a larger dispute involving the Elkann siblings and their mother, Margherita Agnelli, regarding the estate of Gianni Agnelli, with associated civil litigation still pending.
Gianni Agnelli's legacy looms large as he transformed Fiat into a major industrial powerhouse before his death over two decades ago.
Margherita Agnelli, who inherited €1.2bn, has actively contested prior agreements to ensure her assets benefit her five children from a subsequent marriage, rather than her three eldest children.
Elkann, who has been the chair of Stellantis since 2021 and of Ferrari since 2018, has been involved with Fiat since 1997 and previously held the company’s chair position.
