Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion as of 2012. He founded Valentino SpA company and brand. His other famous lines include Valentino Roma, R.E.D. Valentino, Valentino and Valentino Garavani.
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was born on May 11, 1932 in Voghera, Lombardy, Italy. He studied at École des Beaux. It was in 1959 when he opened his fashion house in Rome. A year later, he met Giancarlo Giammetti who became his business partner, and eventually his partner in life. His international debut only came in 1962 during a show held at the Pitti Palace. After the show he received warm and enthusiastic comments from the press and eventually surge of orders came in.
Later on, he began dressing several prominent women in international societies which include Jayne Wrightsman, Babe Paley, Jacqueline de Ribes, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Taylor, Marella Agnelli, Audrey Hepburn, Marisa Berenson, Farah Diba, Gloria Guinness and Queen Paola of Belgium.