According to Forbes magazine, Berlusconi is Italy's third-richest man, with personal assets worth US$9 billion in 2010.

The 75-year-old Italian leader owns businesses spanning television, newspapers, publishing, cinema, finance, banking, insurance and even Italy's most successful football club, AC Milan.

Berlusconi's companies:

Mediaset: his main company, comprising three national TV channels and covering half of the national TV sector.

Publitalia: a leading Italian advertising and publicity agency.

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore: the largest Italian publishing house, whose publications include Panorama, one of the country's most popular news magazines.

Il Foglio: one of the most influential right-wing newspapers in Italy and partially owned by Berlusconi's ex-wife, Veronica Lario.

Fininvest: one of the 10 largest private companies in Italy. Berlusconi is the founder and major shareholder.

Mediolanum: one of Italy's biggest banking and insurance groups, founded by Berlusconi and Ennio Doris.

European football club A.C. Milan: one of the most FIFA-recognized international clubs in the world.