LAPO ELKANN

I've missed a lot of trains in my life, and another one always comes.

I have many weaknesses, but I have one strength. When I do something, I do it 300 percent. I'm not a middle man.

You can learn from everyone, the president or the cleaner. You need teachers in life, but they're not always school teachers or professors. You learn from ordinary people. You learn from travel, from just walking down the street.

I've lived in London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, New York, and Turin. But New York is my favorite city. It has so much energy, so much toughness.

The Cinquecento was an engine of motivation at Fiat. It refurbished the image of the entire company. It's a symbol for the company, but it's more than that. It's a global Italian symbol, as Mini is a global British symbol and the Beetle is a global German symbol.

In America, if you succeed, you don't have to apologize. In Italy, success is envied, and envy is the worst, worst, worst thing in the world. It's easy for me to say because I have had more than many others, but at the end of the day, I have never envied anyone. I wish to no one that they waste their time envying anyone else.

I love challenges, and I believe that the challenge of quality cinema should not be underestimated as an important part of the Italian cultural offer.

Tailor Made will help Ferrari's clients tailor their cars in a very personal, specific way. It's a bespoke service, like visiting Huntsman or Anderson & Sheppard or whoever your favourite Savile Row tailor is.

Just because you're born in a privileged family and have money doesn't mean you're happy. Happiness you can't buy. Happiness is something you need to work for.

I like my country, but I don't think like an Italian. It's a complex, complicated difficult country to make things happen in.

I am in love with cars; I love anything that moves.

Tiles, the best furniture, fabrics, bath fixtures, bronze - just leaf through any design magazine and you immediately understand they're all 'Made in Italy.' We have the premier opera house in the world, La Scala, and behind the Nobel given to CERN is the research of many Italians.

I don't have an MBA, and I didn't go to Yale. I'm not an academic person and wasn't a good student. Instead, I've been taught by some of the most inspiring people in the world.

My office in Milan is in an old factory. I have all my companies here, including Italia Independent and Independent Ideas.

Real luxury is customization.

I love Italy and I say I am from Italy wherever I go.

I'm a freestyle creative entrepreneur. Not a businessman. I like to create ventures in which creativity stands at the centre.

I like listening to music and driving. How do you say... It's the only way I can 'chillax.'

I've learned that if one is arrogant and if something bad happens to him, people won't want him to succeed. They will make more of an effort to bring him down.

My company Independent Ideas worked with Gucci on a special edition Fiat 500.

I try cars; I try them all. Cars need to be sexy, because we're not talking about biscuits here.

I need to make things mine. It annoys me to buy something that is imposed on me. When I have a suit made, I go to the Sicilian tailor Alessandro Martorana in Turin. I like shorter jacket sleeves and often fold the cuffs up. It's more modern that way.

I love Winston Churchill. I love the wisdom he had, the sagacity. I like people who are independent-minded. People who aren't part of clans or systems, who are talented and free, and able to do things without being corrupted by the system.

Fashion is something which is non-lasting; it's ephemeral.

I am Jewish, Italian, American, Catholic.