Why He's No. 26

Berlusconi has become notorious for making outrageous comments, which he considers to be innocent jokes. While his "jokes" can be taken as insulting to the individuals or organizations they were directed at, the media mogul always laughs them off. In a certain way, his demeanor has put him in a light that contrasts him with the majority of politicians who usually come across as dull and humorless to voters.

One example of his humor, and in defense of his alleged statement that "Chinese communists used to eat children," he claimed that he cited the back cover of the Black Book of Communism, which reads: "In the China of Mao, they did not eat children, but had them boiled to fertilize the fields." In response to the second comment, Berlusconi claimed, "It was questionable irony... because this joke is questionable. But I did not know how to restrain myself."

Back Stage

In addition to his media assets, Berlusconi is also the owner and president of the AC Milan football club, one of the top soccer teams in the soccer-mad nation. The team was among four other Serie A squads that were punished for being involved in a major match-fixing scandal in 2006, but they're doing well despite starting the season with an eight-point handicap.

It won't be all fun and games through the next months for one of Italy's most colorful personalities, as judge Fabio Paparella has ordered Berlusconi to stand trial on financial irregularity and corruption charges stemming from activities undertaken by Mediaset during the 1990s.

Forcaste

Media baron turned political leader Silvio Berlusconi is Italy's wealthiest man, in addition to being one of its most controversial public figures. He made much of his estimated $11-billion fortune as founder and main shareholder of Fininvest. His media empire encompasses Mediaset, which controls almost half of Italy's TV market via three national channels, Publitalia, the top advertising and publicity firm in the nation, and Arnoldo Mondadori, the biggest publishing house in Italy. Fininvest, which also includes a financial division, ranks as the country's second most profitable corporation after Fiat.

In 1993, he created the Forza Italia, a center-right political party, and went on to serve as President of the Council of Ministers in 1994 and as Prime Minister from 2001 to May 2006.