Bob Guccione was the founder and publisher of the adult magazine Penthouse until his resignation in November 2003. His real name is Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini Guccione and he was of Sicilian descent – Italian American.
Although Guccione was a talented painter, during his life he went unrecognized as a successful artist. He was also a world-renowned collector of fine art.
In 1982 Guccione was listed in the Forbes 400 ranking of wealthiest people, with a reported $400 million net worth. An April 2002 New York Times article quoted Guccione as saying that Penthouse grossed $3.5 billion to $4 billion over the 30-year life of the company, with a net income of almost $500 million.
Unlike his competitors, Guccione’s editorial content was praised and recognized by those in the academic field.