M
ilan has long been Italy’s style and financial capital. But since Brexit and increased tax on non-doms in the UK — and the re-arrival of Trump in the US — it now has almost as many UHNW (ultra-high-net-worth) residents as London and Paris, according to Henley & Partners’ 2025 World’s Wealthiest Cities Report. Estimated to be home to 17 billionaires and 115,000 millionaires, with numbers fast rising, the city is having to adapt to meet the influx, the latest being a new private members’ club.
The Wilde, which opened in November 2024, has a rich history and glorious position. Moments from Via Montenapoleone, Milan’s answer to Bond Street, the four-storey 1970s modernist building was once the private residence of Santo Versace, brother of Gianni and the president of the Versace fashion house. While its exterior still bears the beige tiles and wooden shutters of the original home, the building’s new contrasting orange awnings and flowering plants — and its provocative name — hint at what the owners hope it will become.
The Library is a refined gathering place and host of various talks
The interiors are inspired by the Vienna Secession style that blends elements of art nouveau and art deco
