Leonardo Del Vecchio passed away at the age of 87 a few days ago, on the morning of June 27th. “The King of Eyeglasses” as Forbes nominated him, referring to the empire he created, Luxottica. His story narrates about a man who, despite having nothing, goes from being a busboy to being a manager of a world-famous company, a true self-made man!
Leonardo is the last of four brothers. Unfortunately, he lost his father just right before his birth and remained an orphan, for this reason he was sent to the Martinitt College for orphans and abandoned children. Here he spent his childhood of which he has beautiful memories and created a new family.
Later, at the age of 15 he left college and began working in a company of medals and badges. In the meantime, Leonardo alternated his working life with his school life, attending evening courses in engraving and design at the Accademia di Brera.
After that, he moved to Belluno, not knowing that here his life would have change forever, indeed he decided to open a business for glasses frames thanks to some facilities offered by the town. It begins to operate only as a supplier of some eyewear parts. A few years later the real Luxottica was born, a manufacturer of complete glasses.
Through thick and thin, successes and failures, the company grows more and more, acquires the main eyewear brands including Vogue, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol and also produces glasses for the most exclusive brands such as: Chanel, Prada, Tiffany, Bulgari and Ralph Lauren.
The most striking thing is the humility, tenacity and passion for this man’s work. Leonardo never stopped, even at the age of 83 when he made one of his last strategic moves, completing the merge between the French group Essilor and his company Luxottica.
When you wake up in the morning and think you can’t do it, think about this story. Today, Luxottica invoices almost 10 billion per year and has 80,000 employees worldwide.
