Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's longest-serving Prime Minister, died on June 12, 2023, at the age of 86. A former cruise ship crooner and real estate entrepreneur, Berlusconi entered politics in 1994 as a member of the right-wing Forza Italia party, forming a coalition government and becoming Prime Minister the following year. He was elected to three successive terms, leading Italy until 2011, when his government was forced to resign due to the long-term effects of the 2008 financial crisis. During his time as Prime Minister, Berlusconi was credited with an aggressive agenda of economic and fiscal reforms, selling off some state-owned enterprises while liberalizing others, and reducing deficits and managing government debt. At the same time, his relentless focus on his own image brought charges, and eventually criminal conviction, for tax evasion and corruption. After his retirement from government, Berlusconi continued to have a strong presence in Italian politics, playing an influential role in the formation of subsequent governments, and championing European Union reform. Berlusconi is survived by his wife, son, and four children.