Nov. 23 (Bloomberg) -- The Italian edition of Rolling Stone magazine voted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi “rock star of the year,” saying his lifestyle is worthy of the greatest rock celebrities.

Rolling Stone’s Italian reporters unanimously chose Berlusconi, 73, as the winner of the 2009 title they assign to the person who “distinguishes himself during the year for his decidedly rock and roll personality and lifestyle,” the magazine’s publisher said in an e-mailed statement.

Berlusconi will grace the magazine’s next edition, in a special cover designed by Shepard Fairey, the artist who made U.S. President Barack Obama’s iconic “Hope” election poster. Given Berlusconi’s lifestyle, “‘the definition of rock-and-roll is too narrow for him,’’ the magazine said.

The private life of the billionaire prime minister has dominated the Italian media since May when his wife Veronica Lario said she would seek divorce and chastised him for ‘‘consorting with minors.’’ Revelations that Berlusconi had attended the 18th birthday part of an aspiring model, the target or Lario’s ire, were followed by reports of parties at his Sardinian villa and other residences with dozens of young women.

In June, Patrizia D’Addario, 42, a paid escort, said she spent the night with the premier at his Rome residence and more than 7 million Italians tuned in on Oct. 20 to watch her first appearance on national television, when she said Berlusconi knew she was being paid to sleep with him. Berlusconi has denied ever paying for sex, saying it takes the ‘‘joy out of the chase.”

D’Addario tomorrow releases a new book about her experiences with Berlusconi called “Gradisca, Presidente,” “Take Your Pleasure, Prime Minister,” a reference to a scene in Federico Fellini film, “Amarcord,” in which a prostitute invites an Italian noble to sleep with her.

U.S. President Barack Obama was second among the nominees for the title, and Pope Benedict XVI was third because he recorded an album of spoken prayer this year for Geffen Records, the label of Nirvana, the magazine said.

To contact the reporter responsible for this story: Lorenzo Totaro in Rome at ltotaro@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 23, 2009 08:21 EST