The Italian fashion designer famous for everything from menswear to perfume has proven to be one of the most successful in his industry of all time. Giorgio Armani’s net worth is $6.1 billion according to Forbes’ 2016 list of the richest people in the world.
Armani created his brand back in 1975, and it only took 25 years before he and his company were called the most successful that had ever come out of Italy. The fashion brand and its many subdivisions have an average yearly turnover of $1.6 billion.
Interestingly, Armani had originally planned on being a doctor, and was even studying medicine at the University of Milan back in the 1950s. After looking for a different career path, he landed a job at a Milano department store as a window dresser. He later worked selling menswear at the same department store, where he learned about marketing in the fashion industry.
His first design work was in the mid-1960s at the Nino Cerruti Company, where he designed menswear for over ten years while also branching out as a freelancer. He became a hit with his designs for several Italian fashion houses in 1973, and finally decided to start his own label in 1975, opening with a 1976 Spring/Summer collection for men and another for women.
Many years later, as one of the most prominent fashion designers in the business, Armani made headlines as the first to ban the use of fashion models who were underweight (BMI of less than 18).
More recently, he licensed his name to be used at 7 luxury hotel and resorts, where Armani would be in charge of the hotels’ style and interior design. He has been the man behind stage outfits for Lady Gaga and many red carpet looks – in fact, he’s been credited by some as a pioneer of red carpet fashion.
