Lapo Elkann

I need to make things mine. It annoys me to buy something that is imposed on me. When I have a suit made, I go to the Sicilian tailor Alessandro Martorana in Turin. I like shorter jacket sleeves and often fold the cuffs up. It's more modern that way.

I like my country, but I don't think like an Italian. It's a complex, complicated difficult country to make things happen in.

I try cars; I try them all. Cars need to be sexy, because we're not talking about biscuits here.

I am Jewish, Italian, American, Catholic.

I love Italy and I say I am from Italy wherever I go.

Just because you're born in a privileged family and have money doesn't mean you're happy. Happiness you can't buy. Happiness is something you need to work for.

I've missed a lot of trains in my life, and another one always comes.

I drive girls crazy because I might call them 20 times in one day and then the next day not once.

I've learned that if one is arrogant and if something bad happens to him, people won't want him to succeed. They will make more of an effort to bring him down.

Fashion is something which is non-lasting; it's ephemeral.

I am lucky because I can - and I like to - mix the beautiful Caraceni jackets I inherited from my grandfather with a pair of Tsubi jeans or wear a favorite pin-striped suit from him for more formal occasions. I'm crazy about pinstripes and vintage fifties fabrics.

Tailor Made will help Ferrari's clients tailor their cars in a very personal, specific way. It's a bespoke service, like visiting Huntsman or Anderson & Sheppard or whoever your favourite Savile Row tailor is.

I have the Italian flag embroidered onto all my dress-shirt cuffs. I am very proud to be Italian.

A pocket square must always - always - be white and a bit wild. If it is too prepared, it is tacky.

I have many weaknesses, but I have one strength. When I do something, I do it 300 percent. I'm not a middle man.

I do not follow the rules of fashion, and I don't like to be considered a man of the world of fashion. I like to call it the 'style industry' because we try to work on taste.

I love challenges, and I believe that the challenge of quality cinema should not be underestimated as an important part of the Italian cultural offer.

My office in Milan is in an old factory. I have all my companies here, including Italia Independent and Independent Ideas.

I love Winston Churchill; I think he had the grace of coming and the grace of leaving - when things were hard he was there, and when it was time to leave, he left.

My company Independent Ideas worked with Gucci on a special edition Fiat 500.

I have never let down Italy, and I never will. I love my country, and I owe a lot to my country, and in that sense, whatever I can and will be able to do for my country, I will do.

In America, if you succeed, you don't have to apologize. In Italy, success is envied, and envy is the worst, worst, worst thing in the world. It's easy for me to say because I have had more than many others, but at the end of the day, I have never envied anyone. I wish to no one that they waste their time envying anyone else.

I'm a freestyle creative entrepreneur. Not a businessman. I like to create ventures in which creativity stands at the centre.

I like listening to music and driving. How do you say... It's the only way I can 'chillax.'

I am an obsessive personality. And if you are an obsessive personality, you need to be aware of it and be able to drive it with success. There are moments in your life when you are driving it well, but you shift and you shift badly and you hurt yourself.