Ferrari Chair John Elkann to Serve Community Sentence Over Tax Dispute

Mon Sep 15 2025 16:41:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

John Elkann, chair of Ferrari, has reached an agreement to perform community service and pay a substantial settlement in a tax case connected to his family's inheritance.

John Elkann, the chairman of Ferrari and Stellantis, is set to undertake a year of community service and pay €183 million to settle a tax dispute involving an inheritance matter. The case, which touches on the estate of his late grandmother, Marella Caracciolo, has also attracted attention for its familial implications and ongoing legal tussles among family members. Elkann’s lawyer emphasizes that the settlement is not an admission of guilt, while prosecutors are seeking to drop criminal charges against his siblings.

The chair of Ferrari and Stellantis has agreed to do one year of community service and jointly pay millions of euros to settle a dispute over inheritance tax in Italy.

John Elkann and his siblings Lapo and Ginevra will pay €183 million (£159 million) to Italian tax authorities, according to multiple media reports.

The settlement includes no admission of liability from Elkann or his siblings. His lawyer stated that this agreement serves as a chance to bring 'this painful affair to a swift and definitive close.'

Elkann, a key figure in one of Italy's most influential families, is the grandson of Gianni Agnelli, former head of Fiat. The tax issue centers around the estate of his grandmother, Marella Caracciolo, who passed away in 2019.

Elkann is likely to propose where he will undertake community service, with possibilities including support roles at facilities for the elderly or addiction assistance centers.

Paolo Siniscalchi, Elkann's attorney, indicated that a request for probation aligns with the context of the settlement and raises the prospect of concluding the charges currently against Elkann if successfully completed.

Previous allegations suggested the Elkann siblings did not declare approximately €1 billion in assets and €248.5 million in income, asserting their grandmother's status as a Swiss resident.

Prosecutors have accepted the settlement terms and recommended dismissal of charges against Elkann's siblings. This case forms part of a larger family dispute involving the Elkann siblings and their mother, Margherita Agnelli, over Gianni Agnelli's estate, which remains litigated in civil court.

Elkann took the reins at Stellantis in 2021 and has chaired Ferrari since 2018. He has been part of Fiat's board since 1997 and was previously its chair.