Giorgio Armani, who died at the age of 91, owned a fashion empire worth over $10 billion.
He was a self-made man with very humble beginnings. Born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, a small town south of Milan, he wanted to become a doctor. But fate had other plans for him.
He started as a window decorator in a Milan department store. This part-time job opened the world of fashion to the youngster.
Milan, 4 September 2025 – With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani.
— Armani (@armani) September 4, 2025
Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away… pic.twitter.com/7lMIdpw5oX
In 1975, Armani and his partner Sergio Galeotti sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 and started their own menswear ready-to-wear label. Soon, womenswear followed.
The liningless sports jacket, which was launched by the brand in the late 1970s, became an instant hit. He paired the jacket with a simple T-shit, and everyone, from Hollywood stars to Wall Street moguls, was mighty impressed.
He also made a revolutionary change in women's fashion by introducing the pantsuit, which became the trademark of businesswomen in the 1980s.
The 1980 film American Gigolo launched both Armani and actor Richard Gere on their Hollywood careers. Over the years, he earned wardrobe credits for over 200 films, according to news agency AP.
So significant was the impact of Armani style, not only on how people dressed but how they approached fashion, that in 2000 New York's Guggenheim museum presented a retrospective of Armani's first 25 years in fashion.
The Armani empire has more than 9,000 employees, seven industrial hubs and over 600 stores worldwide.
Apart from clothes and accessories, the company produces perfumes, cosmetics, home furnishings, candy, flowers and even books.
His fashion empire is now reportedly worth $10 billion.
