Silvio Berlusconi's leadership will be remembered for scandals and the criminal intrigues that surrounded the Italian government. His influence was vast due to his immense wealth and ownership of Italian media outlets. Berlusconi was one of the longest serving Italian prime ministers, but with the global financial crisis public opinion turned against him. The fiscal austerity measures imposed on the Italian public represented the injustice of the neoliberal economic system. Scandals involving fraud, sex crimes, and government corruption could no longer be ignored. What was apparent was that Silvio Berlusconi was using government to protect his businesses and enrich himself further. His net worth was estimated to be $6.8 billion. Some sources claim it was closer to $7 billion at the time of his death. Berlusconi amassed wealth as a property developer and media company founder. The establishment of Fininvest and Telemilano gave him more power over the media by buying up other TV cable companies. By 2012, Silvo Berlusconi was charged with tax evasion by a Milan court. Accusations of sex crimes also were made public, but the charges were dropped. Silvio Berlusconi was never incarcerated for his crimes. It was a reminder that the upper class elite are protected by a corrupted criminal justice system. With all the offenses made public Berlusconi was forced to resign.
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