Police Arrest Fiat Heir, Lapo Elkann For Faking His Own Kidnapping

Lapo Elkann, the brother of Fiat Chairman John Elkann and an heir to Italy's biggest industrial dynasty, was arrested in New York City on Saturday after claiming he had been kidnapped.

Elkann, 39 — who also is internationally known as a fashion icon and entrepreneur — filed a false police report claiming somebody was holding him against his will, said New York Police Sergeant Lee Jones.

New York police arrested Elkann, the grandson of late Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli, at 10:30 p.m. Saturday inside an apartment with a 29-year-old man. The man was initially charged with grand larceny but those charges were dropped.


Elkann allegedly faked his own kidnapping after he ran out of cash after spending two days with an escort and allegedly claimed a woman threatened to hurt him unless a $10,000 ransom was paid, according to the New York Post.

Jones declined to comment on those details. The police have released Elkann but ordered him to appear in court on Jan. 25.