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Roberto Calvi

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Financier

The Resume

    (April 13, 1920-June 17, 1982)
    Born in Milan, Italy
    Chair of Banco Ambrosiano (1975-82)
    Nicknamed 'God's Banker' for his close association with the Vatican
    Convicted of violating Italian currency laws (1981)
    Fled the country while out on bail appealing his conviction
    Found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London
    Death initially ruled a suicide
    Second inquest returned an open verdict, unable to determine if it was suicide or murder (1983)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was a member of the secret, pro-fascist P2 Lodge.
    He set up a network of offshore companies in the Bahamas and South America.
    He reportedly used the bank to launder Mafia drug money.
    The Banco Ambrosiano collapsed with over $1 billion in funds unaccounted for.
    The money was allegedly used to fund Italian political parties and Latin American dictatorships.
    The day he died, an arrest warrant was prepared, accusing him of the attempted murder of one of his aides at the bank.
    Conspiracy theorists think he was involved in the death of Pope John Paul I.
    Shortly before his death, he told a journalist, 'If the whole thing comes out, it'll be enough to start the third world war.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    Some of the money siphoned through his bank may have gone to Poland's Solidarity movement.
    His family contends that he was manipulated by other people.
    He was exhumed (1998) and an independent forensics report concluded that the injuries to his neck were inconsistent with hanging.
    He was apparently killed to keep him from talking.
    A briefcase of bank documents that he took with him to London disappeared.
    His son said, 'I believe the killers were sending a message by killing him in public in the heart of the city. There was definitely something theatrical about it.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 57.89% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 25 Votes: 68.00% Annoying