Born in Rome on March 2, 1943, he is one of the most recognizable and long-standing figures in contemporary Italian capitalism. "Franco," as he has always been called, belongs to a family of entrepreneurs active in the construction sector for generations.

At a very young age, he launched his own business activities. Over more than half a century of operations, this path led him to lead one of Italy's most important industrial and financial groups, diversified across multiple sectors and featuring a strong international presence.

The group bearing his name operates today through three listed companies. It is active in construction, cement, real estate, major infrastructure projects, publishing, and finance. This entrepreneurial system has maintained a strong family imprint. However, it underwent several scale transitions over the years, evolving from its original size as a Roman construction firm into an industrial conglomerate worth over 10 billion euros.

The first key step in this journey of constant growth was the acquisition of the Vianini group in the 1980s, which was active in large-scale infrastructure works. The acquisition of Cementir from IRI dates back to the beginning of the following decade, representing one of the first publicly controlled companies to undergo privatization. That operation led to the birth of a building materials multinational. Today, it is led by his son Francesco and operates in 18 countries worldwide.

Alongside traditional industry, Caltagirone has always cultivated an interest in finance and media. In 1996, he entered publishing by purchasing Il Messaggero, the first building block of a media group that today includes Il Mattino, Il Gazzettino, Il Corriere Adriatico, Il Nuovo Quotidiano di Puglia, and the free daily newspaper Leggo. In parallel, he built significant stakes in the Italian banking and insurance systems over the years, becoming one of the main shareholders of Generali, Mediobanca, and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

From 2010 to 2022, he served as vice chairman of Assicurazioni Generali, a company in which he remains one of the largest shareholders today. Over the years, he also held stakes in Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura, Carige, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro and Unicredit, and in other financial institutions, intervening in several delicate transitions within the structures of national capitalism.

Profoundly connected to Rome, he has always resolutely defended his positions, guiding his entrepreneurial vision and constant commitment toward the benefit and enhancement of the Capital.

An ancient coin collector known for his reserved yet determined character, Caltagirone has maintained direct management of his businesses over time. He has progressively brought his children Francesco, Alessandro, and Azzurra into the group's leadership, and they now sit on the boards of directors of the main companies.

"What I have built will last for generations," he stated in a recent interview with Bloomberg. "Now I think about the common good and contributing to the financial stability of the country."