Horacio Pagani Net Worth, Early Life, Automobili Modena
Horacio Pagani is an Argentine-Italian entrepreneur, engineer, and auto executive with a net worth of $100 million. He is renowned as the founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., an Italian specialty automaker. Before establishing his own company, Pagani gained valuable experience working for Lamborghini and Renault. In 1992, he founded Pagani, and his first production vehicle was the Zonda. Pagani cars are known for their high value, often selling for millions upon release, with some rare models fetching between $10 million and $20 million at auction.
Early Life
Horacio Pagani was born on November 10, 1955, in Casilda, Argentina. He is the son of Luca and Maria Pagani, with his father being a baker originally from Italy. In 1974, Horacio enrolled at the National University of La Plata, where he studied industrial design before transitioning to mechanical engineering at the National University of Rosario. His passion for automobiles started early; he crafted model cars from balsa wood, some of which are displayed in the Pagani showroom.
Early Career
Pagani’s interest in engineering blossomed in Argentina, but he felt that the rural environment would not support his aspirations. In 1977, he opened a modest 80 square meter shop, which he referred to as his “factory.” As the sole worker, his first project involved creating high benches for a local bar. By age 20, he had designed and built an F3 racer, prompting him to move to Italy in pursuit of his dream of creating a supercar.
Lamborghini
Pagani’s journey took a pivotal turn when he began improving the bodies of Renault’s racing cars. He met Giulio Alfieri, Lamborghini’s chief technical director, and started working at Lamborghini in a variety of roles, initially performing basic tasks like cleaning. His dedication led him to become the chief engineer, where he developed the Countach Evoluzione, recognized as “the first car entirely made of composite materials.”
When Lamborghini declined to invest in an autoclave for carbon part production, Pagani took out loans to purchase one himself in 1987. In 1991, he departed from Lamborghini and founded Modena Design, a consultancy specializing in carbon fiber composites for racing vehicles.
Pagani Automobili Modena
In 1992, Horacio established Pagani Automobili Modena and began work on the Zonda, completing it seven years later. In 2011, he introduced the Huayra, named after Huayra-tata, the Incan god of wind. The price tag for a Pagani Huayra typically ranges from $3 million to $4 million.In June 2022, Horacio received the prestigious Compasso d’Oro award from the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale in the “Design for mobility” category. This award is recognized as “the world’s oldest and most distinguished design award.” Pagani expressed gratitude for this recognition:
“For me it is an honour to be recognized as one of the best designers and an excellence of Italian design by the ADI jury… without their frank and constant feedback… none of this would be possible.”
In September 2022, Pagani Automobili unveiled its latest model, the Utopia, at Milan’s National Science & Technology Museum. Only 99 units will be produced, each initially priced at $2.2 million.
Personal Life
Horacio Pagani divorced his wife Cristina in 2017. Together they have two sons: Christopher and Leonardo.
