Mogul and Politician

Silvio Berlusconi, in line to become Italy's prime minister for the third time, began to build a business empire while still in his 20s. Forbes says he is now Italy's second-richest man.

· In 1961, Berlusconi founded a construction company that quickly expanded.

· He entered the media world in 1974, creating a local cable television company, Telemilano, which became the foundation for Italy's largest media company, now including Italy's three largest private TV stations and dozens of other companies. Berlusconi also acquired AC Milan, Italy's most successful soccer team.

· Entering politics in 1993, he founded his own conservative party.

· He became prime minister in 1994 after he formed a coalition with two anti-immigrant parties, the National Alliance and the Northern League, but the government fell seven months later because of internal squabbling and Berlusconi's indictment on fraud charges.

· After again allying with his former partners, Berlusconi became prime minister for a second time in 2001. But fraud charges dogged him once more, and the coalition was narrowly defeated in 2006. Berlusconi has been accused of tax fraud, accounting irregularities and embezzlement, but none of the cases resulted in a standing conviction.

· Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, centerpiece of his People of Freedom coalition, favors tax cuts and the expulsion of illegal immigrants, and has promised to rescue Italy from a feared recession.

SOURCES: News services, Marquis Who's Who, staff reports