This makes Armani’s succession plan unusual. Instead of passing wealth down a bloodline, he has passed it into an institutional legacy, designed to outlive him.
On September 4, 2025, Giorgio Armani passed away in Milan at the age of 91. His death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in global fashion. Armani was more than a designer; he was an architect of modern elegance.
He created the power suit of the 1980s, dressed Hollywood’s royalty, and built a brand empire that stretched from couture to perfumes, hotels, and home décor. Unlike his contemporaries who sold to luxury conglomerates, Armani fought to remain independent, building a privately held company worth billions.
But with his passing, one of the biggest questions in fashion and finance is now front and center: who will inherit Armani’s wealth and take charge of the empire he left behind?
Advertisement
To order your copy, send a WhatsApp message to +1 317 665 2180
No Wife, No Children
Armani never married and never had children. His longtime partner Sergio Galeotti, who co-founded the company with him, died in 1985. Armani devoted his life to his work, famously saying that the Armani brand was his true family.
That absence of a direct heir makes his succession story dramatically different from those of other Italian fashion dynasties like Versace or Ferragamo, where family members stepped into leadership roles.
The lack of children does not mean Armani left his empire without direction. For nearly a decade, he had been planning what would happen after his death.
The Giorgio Armani Foundation
In 2016, Armani established the Giorgio Armani Foundation. This entity was designed to guarantee the independence of the Armani Group and to ensure that it would never fall into foreign hands. Through the foundation, Armani secured both philanthropic goals and business continuity.
The foundation is expected to hold the controlling stake of the company. Its mission is twofold: to preserve Armani’s brand identity and independence, and to support cultural, social, and charitable initiatives.
By giving the foundation control, Armani avoided the risk of his empire being sold to French giants like LVMH or Kering, who have swallowed up many independent fashion houses.
The Inner Circle
While the foundation will own the group, operational leadership is expected to be carried out by a trusted circle of long-serving collaborators and family members. Armani was known for running his company with a tight grip, but he also built a loyal inner team that stayed with him for decades.
Among them is Leo Dell’Orco, Armani’s closest confidant and longtime head of men’s collections. Dell’Orco, often described as Armani’s “right hand,” has been deeply involved in creative decisions and is widely expected to play a central role in guiding the brand’s aesthetic future.
Other executives, including group CEO Giuseppe Marsocci and deputy CEO Alessandro Brusone, are likely to form part of a leadership team managing the business side. Armani’s nieces, Silvana and Roberta, have also been part of the company, Silvana in womenswear design, Roberta in celebrity and global relations. Their roles are expected to continue, offering a thread of family continuity even in the absence of direct heirs.
Wealth and Philanthropy
Armani’s personal wealth, estimated at around 5–6 billion dollars, will largely flow into the foundation as well. This means his fortune is not expected to be divided among distant relatives but rather directed toward the dual mission of brand independence and philanthropy. The foundation will likely fund medical research, cultural preservation, and educational initiatives, causes Armani supported quietly during his lifetime.
This makes Armani’s succession plan unusual. Instead of passing wealth down a bloodline, he has passed it into an institutional legacy, designed to outlive him. In doing so, he positioned himself more like a European industrialist of the 20th century than a fashion designer.
Comparisons in Fashion
Armani’s decision contrasts sharply with other fashion houses. Versace, after Gianni Versace’s murder in 1997, went to his sister Donatella and niece Allegra, but eventually sold to Capri Holdings. Valentino changed hands multiple times, and Bulgari was acquired by LVMH.
By contrast, Chanel remains controlled by the Wertheimer family, and Hermès fiercely protects family ownership. Armani’s plan appears modeled more on Chanel and Hermès, preserve independence, protect brand DNA, and insulate against takeover.
Whether this model succeeds will depend on how well his successors can balance preservation with reinvention. Fashion is notoriously unforgiving to brands that stagnate.
The Stakes for Italy
For Italy, Armani’s passing is not just the loss of a designer but the loss of a cultural symbol. His company is one of the few major Italian luxury groups that has remained fully Italian and independent. In Milan, where his Armani/Teatro remains a landmark, his decision to keep the brand Italian is seen as a matter of national pride.
The future of the Armani Group will therefore not only impact global fashion but also Italy’s cultural and economic identity. Will it remain a beacon of Italian independence, or will global pressures eventually force compromise? Armani worked hard to ensure the former.
A Carefully Scripted Transition
Armani’s team has referred to the transition as “organic.” By this, they mean a handover that does not shock investors, customers, or employees. The brand will continue to operate with the same understated elegance that defined Armani himself.
The foundation will provide financial stability, the executives will provide continuity, and the family members will provide cultural connection.
But challenges lie ahead. Younger consumers are drawn to louder, edgier brands like Balenciaga, Gucci, and Off-White. The Armani look of minimalist, timeless, understated will need creative leadership that can preserve its DNA while refreshing it for new generations.
The Final Regret
In one of his last interviews, Armani admitted that his only regret was working too much, at the expense of personal relationships. He gave everything to his company, and in turn, he has left everything to it. The Armani brand was his child, his family, and his legacy.
With his passing, the question of who inherits his wealth is not answered by a single person’s name, but by a structure: the Giorgio Armani Foundation. This foundation will ensure that Armani’s fortune serves both his company and society at large, a model of legacy planning that few designers have attempted.
The death of Giorgio Armani closes a monumental chapter in fashion history. Yet the story of his empire is far from over. Instead of handing wealth and control to heirs, Armani entrusted his legacy to a foundation, a team of loyal collaborators, and a vision of independence.
Who inherits Armani’s billions? The answer is not a person but an idea: that Italian creativity, discipline, and elegance should endure, untethered from foreign control and preserved for generations. Whether that idea thrives will be the true test of Armani’s final act as a designer, businessman, and cultural icon.
Credit: www.news18.com
