What Else Life Has in Store

“At my age, if I don't have a massage at least every day, it's a problem for the muscles,” Gianluca Vacchi, 51, tells me, speaking over the phone from Italy as he partakes in one of his post-workout massages in his Bologna home. “I exercise every day, depending on where I am. And when I am in Bologna, I train twice a day. I do yoga, a lot of cardio, Pilates, then I play tennis. I go running, or I do a routine in my room. Once you are in good shape in the body, your mind is, as well. It’s like a chain reaction.” It's the last day of February but for Vacchi, this means a new month of working out, traveling, and dancing on yachts is on the horizon.

Vacchi is best known for his large Instagram presence where he regularly shares glimpses into his high-end and lavish lifestyle filled with private jets, finely-tailored suits, epic dance moves, and DJ sets at some of the world’s largest clubs. He first gained Instagram recognition in 2016 after a video of him and a model dancing poolside went viral. Since then, his following has soared (and is now nearing the 13 million mark).

Before he could be seen vibrantly dancing on Instagram’s Explore page, however, the business-savvy Gianluca Vacchi could be spotted regularly at boardroom meetings. Vacchi’s former “life” as an entrepreneur and businessman, as he calls it, started when he took command over his family’s company. “I started when I was about 25 years old because the family company needed some turnaround,” he says. “We had an emerging and very fast-growing company that was producing packaging machinery, and together we decided to sell the real estate business and invest in the packaging company.”

A few years later, when he was 29, Vacchi began working in private equity. “I had companies in 12 different sectors, [including] travel industry, plastic, machinery, and plant industry,” he explains, adding that after many years of success in his field, he began to question what else life had in store for him and retired at age 45. “I understood that being a businessman was not moving my curiosity anymore, and I almost sold everything,” he shares. “My curiosity was getting flatter and flatter.”

After speaking with a friend and taking an interest in showcasing his life, Vacchi decided to start an Instagram profile (“If I show the way I live, the way I take care of myself, my way of joking, of being ironic, I can become a global entertainer”). While he still serves as a shareholder, Vacchi's interest now lies elsewhere – specifically in the DJ booth. “Imagine coming out from a business meeting with lawyers and bankers and going into a DJ booth to entertain thousands of young people. It's a dream and a privilege,” he says. That said, in 2017, Vacchi released his first single, “Viento.” “Now my life is totally dedicated to music, which was a passion I started when I was 6 years old, playing the piano,” he continues. “My grandma was a piano teacher, so I always had a passion in music, which could be seen in my famous dances.”

Nowadays, Vacchi is exploring another interest: philanthropy. “Material aspects have never been important. Now, what is growing into me is trying to really help others. In many ways. From classical charity to social media,” he affirms, also referring to those dealing with the current political crisis in Venezuela. “I'm very concentrated on helping all my friends in Venezuela.” He plans to create his very own foundation that will focus on “human rights, and the other is aimed towards giving young people a chance to achieve their dreams. It is a big chapter in my life in the next years for sure.”

Writer: Mike Varius 

Photographer & Videographer: Ray Kay 

Fashion Editor: Lassalle (@stylebylassalle & @stevenlassalle_ - www.stevenlassalle.com) 

Fashion Editor Assistants: Huberta Marie (@huberta.marie) & Marie Auguste (@marie_lyfestyle) 

Men’s Grooming: Hanic Arias 

Editor: Eiko Watanabe 

Special thanks to PDQ (@pdqfreshfood - www.eatpdq.com)