Fashion designer Giorgio Armani had an illustrious career before his September 2025 death at the age of 91, and he left the business to his family.
Nearly eight years before Armani’s death, he wasn’t thinking about a successor.
“I would say I’m working more,” Armani, then 83, told The Telegraph in a 2017 profile.
Us Weekly confirmed on September 4, 2025, that Armani died after an undisclosed illness.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani. Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” a press release read. “Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”
Celebrity Deaths of 2025: Anne Burrell, Hulk Hogan and More
The statement continued, “Over the years, Giorgio Armani has crafted a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism. He has been driven by relentless curiosity and a deep attention to the present and to people.”
The statement further noted that the Armani brand, which will always be “a reflection of [its founder’s] spirit,” will be run by his family and fellow employees. Scroll below to meet Armani’s relatives:
Who Were Giorgio Armani’s Parents?
Giorgio was one of the three children of Ugo Armani and Maria Raimondi.
“He was very elegant,” Giorgio told The Telegraph of his father, who worked as an accountant. “Very simple, but neat. A clean-cut man who didn’t have much time because he had to work. He had to support three children. So, he didn’t really have the opportunity to get out of his limited world. I always appreciated that he made sure we never lacked anything.”
Giorgio also touted his mother Raimondi’s minimalist elegance in the interview.
Giorgio Armani Had 2 Siblings
Ugo and Maria also shared daughter Rosanna and son Sergio, both of whom have been involved with Giorgio’s namesake label. Rosanna even starred in Armani’s 1979 spring/summer campaign, dressed in a smart business suit.
Did Giorgio Armani Have Kids?
Giorgio did not have children of his own, but previously designated nieces Silvana and Roberta Armani, as well as nephew Andrea Camerana as his brand’s heirs.
Reuters reported in 2023, citing court documents from Milan, that Rosanna, Silvana, Roberta, Andrea, as well as Giorgio’s longtime collaborator Pantaleo Dell’Orco were expected to take over the fashion label.
“I don’t currently envisage a takeover by a large luxury conglomerate,” Giorgio told Bloomberg the next year in April 2024. “Listing is something we have not yet discussed, but it is an option that may be considered, hopefully in the distant future.”
He further stressed that he wanted the brand to be run by “a pool of trusted people.”
“I started out alone with a small company and have transformed it, piece by piece, into a group of international relevance,” Giorgio explained. “What has always characterized the success of my work is an ability to adapt to changing times.”
Was Giorgio Armani Ever Married?
Giorgio had never been married but was previously in a long-term relationship with architect and brand cofounder Sergio Galeotti. Galeotti died in 1985 after an AIDS-related illness at the age of 40.
In the years since Galeotti’s passing, Giorgio has reflected on his legacy.
“My business partner Sergio Galeotti called me in 1981, saying we urgently needed to figure out a logo for this new line called Emporio Armani,” a 2024 Instagram post read. “So, while holding the phone in one hand and a pen in the other, I drew an eagle, which I felt symbolized the unattainable. That logo was embraced by the younger generation. Wearing these clothes meant being part of a group, being faithful and true to others as well as to yourself. Today, the eagle still holds the same sort of meaning for me as it did back then. It is a powerful bird and in this power is a sense of reaching for new heights.”
What Has Giorgio Armani’s Family Said About His Death?
“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family,” a statement signed by Giorgio’s family and employees read. “Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility and love.”
