Career Timeline of Renzo Rosso: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Renzo Rosso made an impact.

Renzo Rosso is an Italian entrepreneur best known as the founder of Diesel and the president of OTB Group, which owns notable fashion brands like Maison Margiela and Jil Sander. His success in the fashion industry has led to a significant net worth, estimated by Forbes at $3.6 billion in 2022. Rosso's career exemplifies entrepreneurial success and leadership within the fashion world.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1975: Rosso drops out of University and starts working at Moltex

In 1975, Renzo Rosso dropped out of the University of Venice and began working as a Production Manager at Moltex, a local clothing manufacturer.

1977: Rosso becomes a shareholder of the Genius Group forming Diesel

In 1977, Adriano Goldschmied convinced Renzo Rosso to stay at Moltex by offering him a 40% stake and agreeing to form Diesel together. Following the new partnership, Rosso became a shareholder of the Genius Group, which gathered brands such as Replay, King Jeans, Viavai, and Goldie.

1984: Renzo Rosso created Dieselito

In 1984, Renzo Rosso created Dieselito, a line of children's wear.

1985: Rosso takes complete control of Diesel

In 1985, Renzo Rosso took complete control of Diesel by trading his shares in the Genius Group for Goldschmied's remaining shares in Diesel. Sales of Diesel-branded clothing had reached about $5 million annually.

1992: Rosso purchases a farm and starts Diesel Farm

In late 1992, Renzo Rosso purchased a farm close to Diesel headquarters in Molvena and began producing wine and olive oil under the name Diesel Farm.

1994: Rosso reopened the Pelican Hotel

In 1994, Rosso reopened the Pelican Hotel on Miami's South Beach strip after it had been restored.

1996: Rosso became the owner of the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team

In 1996, Renzo Rosso became the owner of the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team.

1996: Publication of 'Forty'

In 1996, Renzo Rosso published his first book, 'Forty', under the Diesel brand.

1998: Publication of 'Diesel: World Wide Wear'

In 1998, Ted Polhemus published 'Diesel: World Wide Wear' through Thames and Hudson, detailing Renzo Rosso's story.

Diesel: World Wide Wear (Cutting Edge)

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1999: Dieselito becomes Diesel Kid

In 1999, the children's wear line Dieselito became Diesel Kid.

October 2000: Staff International acquired by Renzo Rosso

In October 2000, Staff International was acquired by Renzo Rosso.

2000: Rosso purchases Staff International

In 2000, Renzo Rosso made his first acquisition when he purchased Staff International.

2001: Manufacturing and selling wine and olive oil

In 2001, Rosso began manufacturing and selling wine and olive oil at Diesel Farm.

2002: Maison Margiela sales

In 2002, Maison Margiela sales were €15 million.

2002: Rosso purchases Maison Margiela

In 2002, Renzo Rosso purchased the majority of the fashion house Maison Margiela.

2004: CNN describes Diesel

In 2004, CNN described Diesel as "the first brand to believe truly in the global village and to embrace it with open arms."

2004: Rosso explains his admiration for Maison Margiela

In 2004, Rosso explained his admiration for Maison Margiela in an interview with Women's Wear Daily.

2005: Maison Margiela sales increased to €30 million

By 2005, Maison Margiela had increased its sales to €30 million, compared to €15 million in 2002.

2005: Establishment of Millennium Promise

Established in 2005, Millennium Promise is the leading international non-profit organization solely committed to supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to halve extreme poverty by 2015.

2005: Publication of 'Fifty'

In 2005, Rosso published 'Fifty' through Gestalten Verlag.

June 2008: Rosso donates to the Special Relief Fund

In June 2008, Renzo Rosso donated 2,000,000 HKD ($250,000) to the Special Relief Fund for Children Affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, established by UNICEF.

July 2008: Rosso purchases Viktor & Rolf

In July 2008, Renzo Rosso purchased the majority of the stakes of Viktor & Rolf.

2008: Maison Margiela showed profitability

In 2008, Maison Margiela showed profitability for the first time since the acquisition, reaching sales above €60 million.

2008: Rosso launches OTB Foundation

In 2008, Renzo Rosso launched OTB Foundation, a not-for-profit organization to contribute to the sustainable development of less advantaged areas.

2008: Publication of 'XXX Years of Diesel Communication'

In 2008, the book 'XXX Years of Diesel Communication' was published by Rizzoli.

March 2009: Rosso invests in Yoox

In March 2009, Renzo Rosso purchased 4.9% of the stocks in Yoox, an online mail-order retailer of multi-brand clothing and accessories, now known as Yoox-Net-A-Porter.

2009: Diesel's 'Be Stupid' campaign

In 2009, Diesel launched the award-winning 'Be Stupid' campaign, which is based on a business philosophy Rosso has practiced much throughout his life and career.

2009: Rosso supports Only The Brave Millennium Village

In 2009, Renzo Rosso, together with Millennium Promise, started supporting the development of the Only The Brave Millennium Village, in Dioro, Mali.

2010: Millennium Promise Millennium Development Goals Global Leader

In 2010, Renzo Rosso was named Millennium Promise Millennium Development Goals Global Leader in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals Summit, at the United Nations in New York City.

2010: Rosso invests in Veneto projects

Since 2010, Renzo Rosso has personally invested in projects focused on his home region of Veneto, North-East Italy, including bringing free public Wi-Fi and initiating restoration projects in his hometown of Bassano del Grappa.

April 2011: Rosso Interview with Corriere della Sera

In April 2011, in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Renzo Rosso stated that he never intended to follow the route of Bernard Arnault and François Pinault, but that he instead wanted to build a conglomerate that is "democratic" and alternative.

2011: Publication of 'Be Stupid: For Successful Living'

In 2011, Renzo Rosso released 'Be Stupid: For Successful Living', a business advice manual, published by Rizzoli.

Be Stupid: For Successful Living

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February 2012: Rosso hosts a press conference at The United Nations

In February 2012, Renzo Rosso was invited by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations to host a press conference at The United Nations together with Jeffrey Sachs, about the progress of Millennium Promise and OTB Foundation.

July 26, 2012: Rosso created the Brave Circle Fund

On July 26, 2012, Renzo Rosso created the Brave Circle Fund to help people hit by the 2012 earthquakes in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He dedicated 5 million euros to set up a micro-credit program.

2012: Diesel Kid becomes Brave Kid

In 2012, Diesel Kid became Brave Kid, a stand-alone company.

August 2013: NY Times estimates Diesel jeans sales

In August 2013, The NY Times estimated that Diesel had sold more than 100,000,000 pairs of jeans since 1978.

2013: Rosso partners in Chiltern Firehouse hotel

In 2013, Renzo Rosso became a partner of Andre Balazs and Eric Schmidt in the Chiltern Firehouse hotel in London.

2013: Publication of 'Revolution'

In 2013, Riccardo Micheletti's 'Revolution' was published by Marcianum, focusing on Renzo Rosso's life.

2015: Halve extreme poverty by 2015

Millennium Promise is the leading international non-profit organization solely committed to supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to halve extreme poverty by 2015.

2016: Publication of 'Radical Renaissance 55+5'

In 2016, Renzo Rosso published 'Radical Renaissance 55+5' through Assouline.

Radical Renaissance 60 (Legends)

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June 18, 2018: Rosso formalized purchase of Vicenza Calcio

On June 18, 2018, Renzo Rosso formalized the purchase of the business unit of the bankrupt Vicenza Calcio soccer team through its liquidation auction.