Italian entrepreneur and titan of industry Gianluca Vacchi knows how to master the unruly world of business and how to have fun along the way.

Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) begins his day at 6:30 a.m. and cherishes a moment next to his daughter to ensure he’s the first face she sees upon waking. He then jumps into a cold plunge, followed by two hours on an infrared cardio bike he invented. His schedule typically includes phone meetings and a late lunch—unless he’s fasting, a regimen he follows with precision: 16 to 18 hours daily, 24 hours weekly, 48 hours monthly and 72 hours biannually. Afternoons are reserved for his passion, padel, played either on one of his three custom-designed courts in Italy or at Sunset Padel in Miami, his newest venture, followed by hyperbaric chamber therapy for its recovery and anti-aging benefits.

Full look, his own custom suit; Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

“The story of Gianluca Vacchi is one of entrepreneurial genius, relentless determination and an unshakable belief in living life to its fullest potential. It’s a story that proves it’s never too late to learn something new or completely reinvent yourself at any age.”

Vacchi takes an unprompted but fascinating detour to educate me on telomeres and DNA sequences as part of the aging process, justifying his obsession with hyperbaric therapy. “Are you taking notes? Because I don’t want you to miss anything,” Vacchi interrupts himself to reassure I’m not missing a beat as he goes through his typical regimented day in explicit detail. This level of discipline reflects his strategic mindset and how he defines success—it also marks the first of many lessons he professes throughout our conversation. “In life, you have to be consistent; there is no talent without it,” he proclaims with emphasis. Every minute of Vacchi’s life is dedicated to living well with consistency and intention.

Full look, his own custom suit; Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

And if you thought you knew Vacchi through his DJ career or vibrant life on social media, where he broadcasts his uninhibited joy to more than 47 million followers, then you simply don’t know him at all.

So, who is he? The story of Gianluca Vacchi is one of entrepreneurial genius, relentless determination and an unshakable belief in living life to its fullest potential. It’s a story that proves it’s never too late to learn something new or completely reinvent yourself at any age. His zest for life is infectious, and he has a way of philosophizing these intangible keys to success that blend business and lifestyle, making him a modern Renaissance man defying the conventional norm. You can’t help but be inspired by his eccentricity, and if you have the privilege of meeting Vacchi, it becomes apparent that he didn’t amass his fortune with a weighty résumé by any stroke of luck.

Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello shirt, ysl.com; his own pants and watch. Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

As Vacchi puts it, being an entrepreneur was a clear vocation he felt called to as a young man. Some teenage boys dream of having a Porsche or Harley-Davidson. Vacchi happened to have both but decided to sell them to gain some liquidity and buy shares of his family’s company. He recalls this chess move as the first change of course that would determine the rest of his life. When asked what aspect of being an entrepreneur was the draw for you, the pace or money, he replies, “Money? No. At the end of the day, money is only a result of things done well.”

Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello shirt, ysl.com; his own pants and watch. Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

The multihyphenate was born in Bologna, Italy, to a family with a business pedigree known for their enterprise, Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (IMA)—a multinational corporation specializing in industrial packaging. It was reasonably lucrative, and Vacchi knew early on that this was a “pearl,” but he wasn’t satisfied and felt that out of his kin of shareholders, he had what it took to thrust it to the next level. He so fervently believed that he could achieve more with his direction that he put himself into debt, making early investments to buy out relatives and remain tenacious on a rocky ride to the top. “The only thing that’s important at the end of the day is how resilient you are, how resistant you are and how much strength you have in not giving up,” he says. Vacchi persevered through debt, scandal and skepticism as he crowned himself one of our time’s greatest business magnates. “Being flexible, too; this is important,” he explains. “Being flexible means that you’re open to changing your life’s direction, but you have the skills to see things from a different angle.” Cut to 2024, when Vacchi made international headlines for selling his stake in IMA with the company being valued at more than $7 billion.

“THE ONLY THING THAT’S IMPORTANT AT THE END OF THE DAY IS HOW RESILIENT YOU ARE.”—GIANLUCA VACCHI

Full look, his own custom tailoring and shoes Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

After bringing me up to speed on where he stands today, he concludes modestly, “I can say that it has been a successful trip in the world of business.” Along the journey from humble beginnings, Vacchi achieved degrees in economics and business to satisfy his father’s wishes and prove he could indeed do it all; conquered a successful business in private equity by 29 years old; bolstered a tapestry of global brands like fashion luminary Brunello Cucinelli; became an electronic dance music DJ collaborating with artists like Becky G and Luis Fonsi, which he attributes to his early love of music through family piano lessons; and by his mid-40s, he had helped four companies go public and led 14 companies in different sectors. “And then I became quite bored,” he quips.

Full look, his own custom tailoring and shoes Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

What does a titan of industry do after they’ve reached the pinnacle of success? Unlock a new challenge, of course. For the latest trick, Vacchi debuted his first Miami project in September—Sunset Padel—Miami Beach’s first indoor padel club, followed by a joint venture with real estate tycoons Michael Stern and Rafi Gibly on a project to lead over $4 billion in new development across South Florida, including two of Miami’s branded real estate endeavors announced earlier this year: 888 Brickell Dolce&Gabbana Residences & Hotel and Mercedes-Benz Places Miami, which will be the most significant mixed-use project under development in the region that will boast new restaurants, shopping and residences, with 888 set to be the city’s tallest tower.

James Perse T-shirt, jamesperse.com; Brunello Cucinelli sweater, shop.brunellocucinelli.com; his own pants. Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

“I’ve always carried the elegance and charm of Italy in my heart, and I wanted to share that part of my life with Miami. For me, it’s not just about building something—it’s about creating a place where people can feel the beauty and warmth of the Italian lifestyle I treasure,” Vacchi explains enthusiastically. “And in feng shui, 888 means prosperity, and in Christian numerology, it represents Jesus, so this double coincidence made me think that the direction was a lucky one, and I believe in energies in life. It’s going to be something incredible.” Vacchi will leave his stamp in Miami with forthcoming announcements for New York and the West Coast.

James Perse T-shirt, jamesperse.com Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

Vacchi’s way of talking about himself and life is almost prophetic; he was so keen to master every segment of the arts that he met with a philosopher but then decided he’d rather devise his philosophy. It all started to make sense as I continued to lean into this modern, Aristotelian-esque magnate and realized that all the time in the world wouldn’t be enough to delve into his ideologies and adventures. “I always say that life is the first loan we receive,” Vacchi shares as one of his many tenets, spoken like a true businessman.

Brunello Cucinelli cardigan, shop.brunellocucinelli.com; his own pants and sunglasses. Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA

“So on this loan, we pay some interest, of course, and these interests are our pains, losses, difficulties and moments of sadness. This is the interest rate that we pay on the loan. Then you have the joy, the love, the family, the successes—this is the fruit or the right use of this beautiful loan that is life. So, I wake up every morning and say, ‘OK, this is the first day of what is left for me, I want to take full advantage of it.’” Vacchi’s joie de vivre has been the fuel behind his many pursuits. And if you ask Gianluca Vacchi what the real key to success is, he simply says to “be passionate, dedicated, respect others, and you need to have fun!”

Brunello Cucinelli cardigan, shop. brunellocucinelli.com; his own pants and sunglasses. Photography By DIEGO ARMANDO MENDOZA