Tattooed, muscular, slick-haired—Rommy Gianni rules Monaco like a magician in a tuxedo. A self-styled prince of polo, organizer of ultra- select parties, and longtime companion of Flavio Briatore, he cultivates the art of appearance with military precision. But behind the varnish, the leased cars, and staged kisses, Briatore’s inner circle is starting to catch the heady scent of deceit.
Born in Rome in 1977 into a wealthy family, Romolo Gianni was cradled in a world of velvet and cut crystal. His father, Sabatino Gianni, built the real estate empire Agricola Lieta Spa. His mother, more drawn to the social scene, preferred the bright lights of the Riviera to the drudgery of boardrooms. She, by contrast, glided through life as though on a ballroom floor—graceful, elusive, drawn more to the Riviera’s glitz than to shareholder disputes. Even as a child, Rommy understood the power he held over her. He led her by the nose, and she gave in to his every whim, unaware that he was already rehearsing what would later become his signature move: getting what he wanted without ever having to ask. The earliest sketch of manipulation—delivered with sequins and a smile. It was by her side that he discovered Monaco, not as a place, but as a promise: a world where appearance equals inheritance.
Educated at Switzerland’s most elite boarding schools—those places where one learns to walk straight rather than think sideways – Rommy developed an acute eye for detail. Uninterested in academics, he quickly specialized in another discipline: the art of appearances.
The king of reflections and reels
At 47, slicked-back hair barely concealing a receding hairline, and arms tattooed and proudly displayed on Instagram, Gianni is a curious mix of dandy and influencer. His wardrobe is more curated than a jeweler’s showcase. Every outing feels choreographed. He never leaves home without his Swiss watch, frozen smile, and a phone ready to capture his latest glow-up.
The grand façade: bankruptcy and leased glam
On the surface, everything appears perfect. But in 2020, the family business filed for bankruptcy, brought down by massive financial losses. End of the dynasty? Not for Rommy, who kept posting sunlit selfies from jets and glittering yachts.
The truth, murmured discreetly by those in the know: most of his luxury cars are leased. His universe is a stage set of affluence built on shaky foundations. He owns little, but displays much—and in Monaco, that’s often more than enough.
Polo as camouflage
With the Monte Carlo Polo Team, Gianni shaped an image of the refined patron. He curated bespoke events, invited VIPs, spoke of tradition and elegance as if he truly believed in them. But to more grounded observers, it all looked like just another maneuver: a polo- scented smokescreen to mask an economic void.
Flavio Briatore, the friend turned liability
For years, Flavio Briatore was Gianni’s natural counterpart. Two flamboyant Italians, fixtures of the jet-set, cigar-silhouetted figures gliding through over-lit soirées. But now, the paddock magnate appears to be quietly distancing himself.
Not by personal decision, but under pressure from his inner circle, who are sounding the alarm. They speak of toxic influence, a “social manipulator,” a man who has mastered the art of seduction, hypnosis, and misdirection.
A former business partner who had done business with him in Italy delivered the final blow:
“He’s a real magician, a master of manipulation, a hypnotist more dangerous than Kaa the snake from The Jungle Book. He’s a mind game expert and can really mess with your head.”
Chloe Green: the premeditated kiss
One of Gianni’s best-known tricks remains his short-lived romance with Chloe Green, heiress to the Topshop fortune. In 2019, the couple made waves from aboard a yacht: steamy kisses, golden sunsets, photo ops too perfect to be accidental.
Behind the love story likely lay a timeworn tactic: the kiss and tell. You kiss, then you call the tabloids. The Daily Mail, ever hungry for sun-tanned billionaires, jumped at the bait. Gianni beamed. Truth be damned—as long as the spotlight’s on.
The man who needed to be seen at all costs
Rommy Gianni is not really a businessman, nor a socialite. He is a screenwriter of his own persona, a creator of social bubbles, a high- end illusionist. He plays with the codes of luxury the way others juggle words. In his world, appearance beats substance, and an Instagram story outweighs a bank statement.
He builds nothing. He assembles imagery. He leads no one, but raises every eyebrow. And sometimes, he lets you believe you’ve seen through him—right before he disappears into a brand-new backdrop.
The glint before the collapse?
In Monaco, everyone knows Rommy Gianni. No one knows who he truly is. He fascinates, exasperates, divides. And Flavio Briatore, nudged by those closest to him, is starting to realize that too much flash can become a burden.