Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born on 11 May 1932, in Voghera, Lombardy, Italy. He is a fashion designer, best known for founding the Valentino SpA company and brand. He’s launched various fashion lines including Valentino, Valentino Roma, Valentino Garavani, and R.E.D. Valentino. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Valentino Garavani? As of mid-2016, authoritative sources estimate a net worth that is at $1.5 billion, mostly earned through the international success of his fashion designs and brands. He’s travelled and showcased his designs around the world and has also appeared in a few films. He’s also won numerous awards and all of these have ensured the position of his wealth.
Valentino Garavani Net Worth $1.5 billion
Valentino started his interest in fashion while in primary school, becoming the apprentice for local designer Ernestina Salvadeo. Eventually, he moved to Paris to pursue a career in fashion and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He then became an apprentice of Jean Desses, and assisted Countess Jacqueline de Ribes with various ideas for dresses. He made a lot of sketches, and after five years at Jean Desses, left after a disagreement, and joined Guy Laroche at his fashion house for two years, before returning to Rome to set up his own fashion house.
He opened Via Condotti in 1960, thanks to help from his father, and many models flew in for his first show; Valentino was becoming known for his red dresses that were called “Valentino Red”. He then met Giancarlo Giammetti who would become his business partner and would help improve Valentino’s finances. In 1962, Garavani made his international debut in Italy and began attracting the attention of fashion editors. His designs even caught the attention of Mrs. Kennedy who would wear his designs during the year of mourning after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Valentino would then design the “Valentino Gown” which Kennedy wore during her next wedding.
In the 1970s, he moved to New York City and became friends with Andy Warhol and Vogue’s Diana Vreeland. After 20 years, he opened Accademia Valentino which showcased art exhibitions and fashion related events. Valentino had become an international name at this point, and they eventually sold their company for $300 million to HdP which led to the company being sold to Marzotto Apparel. In 2008, Valentino retired with a final show in Paris that received a standing ovation from the entire audience. Many high profile models appeared in the event, including Eva Herzigova, Karen Mulder, Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer. In 2012, an exhibition about Valentino was showcased at the Somerset House in London.
Aside from fashion, Valentino appeared in the film “The Devil Wears Prada” as a cameo of himself. He also had a documentary made about him entitled “Valentino: The Last Emperor”. He was awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur in 2006 and was also honored with the Valentino Museum built in Rome. He was also given the Medal of the City of Paris and was awarded the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.
For his personal life, it is known that Valentino and Giammetti had a relationship from 1960 to 1972, but they remained together despite the end of their relationship. He also dated Carlos Souza, and in the 1980s met Bruce Hoeksema who started as a model at Valentino. He was also engaged to actress Marilu Tolo, the only woman whom Valentino loved. Aside from these, it is known that he owns six pugs.
