Behind the scenes, Armani made moves to keep his company private for the foreseeable future. Major financial decisions, such as an IPO or any mergers and acquisitions, are not allowed until five years after his death, providing a period of stability.

Pat Riley first met Giorgio Armani in Milan in 1982, when the Italian designer told the then up-and-coming coach that he could make him beautiful suits.

Armani never relinquished control over the multibillion-dollar company he created, a key to his enormous success.

"We sent all our executives to the Beverly Hills [Armani] store to buy, because it was the look we wanted," says the legendary superagent, who co-founded CAA in 1975.

From Hollywood stars to devoted fans, memories of Armani’s legacy filled social media after news of his death.

Online searches for vintage Armani clothes have surged since Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani died on Thursday, as shoppers scoured second-hand

Armani, one of the most recognizable names and faces in the global fashion industry, missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 for the first time to recover from an undisclosed condition.

Giorgio Armani, who died on Thursday, built one of the world's most iconic fashion groups, over which he maintained a tight grip until the very end. Giorgio's key muse for decades, Rosanna, 86, was the youngest of the three Armani siblings.

- Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani acknowledges applause at the end of his Emporio Armani men's Fall-Winter 2014 collection, part of the Milan Fashion Week, unveiled in Milan, Italy, Jan. 13, 2014.