Who will be Giorgio Armani’s successor?
On September 4, 2025, the day of his death at the age of 91 in Milan, Italy, the succession process began for the iconic Italian designer, founder of one of the most recognized brands in the international luxury fashion market.
Together with his partner and co-founder Sergio Galeotti, in 1975 he created GIORGIO ARMANI S.p.A., a company that revolutionized classic tailoring and became a reference in clothing and accessories, expanding to all regions of the world.
With no children or publicly designated sole heir, and due to his fragile health, Giorgio Armani had prepared a succession plan to ensure the continuity of his legacy. Among the closest members of his inner circle with the greatest likelihood of assuming control of the company are Leo Dell’Orco, his right-hand man and one of the most probable successors, who met Armani more than 45 years ago and chaired the board of directors of the Olimpia Milano basketball club, owned by Armani. Alongside him, his sister Rosanna and niece Roberta Armani are also expected to join the company’s board of directors.
It is estimated that Giorgio Armani’s fortune exceeds US$ 12 billion, including a global retail network, investments in hotels and restaurants, real estate, and stakes in sports clubs.
Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy. He initially studied medicine but abandoned it to pursue fashion. He began as a window dresser and sales assistant in Milan’s department stores, later becoming a designer for the Nino Cerruti brand.
In 1975, he founded his company, initially focused on menswear, revolutionizing classic attire with his famous “deconstructed suit,” which eliminated shoulder pads and rigid linings to create a softer and more comfortable silhouette.
Over time, the brand expanded to include womenswear and added footwear, leather goods, fragrances, and accessories, all maintaining the house’s unmistakable style.
Global expansion, driven by the brand's success, took off in the 1980s, largely thanks to Hollywood. The iconic wardrobe he designed for Richard Gere in American Gigolo (1980) cemented his reputation in the United States and made his designs a symbol of status and elegance.
Throughout his career, Armani fought to keep his company independent, rejecting offers from major luxury conglomerates. His vision was a brand coherent and controlled by a single owner, a principle he upheld until the end.
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