History of Renzo Rosso in Timeline
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.
1955: Renzo Rosso born
In 1955, Renzo Rosso, the Italian entrepreneur and businessman who would later found Diesel and become the president of OTB Group, was born.
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.
1978: Diesel jeans sales
It was estimated that Diesel had sold more than 100,000,000 pairs of jeans since 1978.
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.
1992: Grand Prix awards
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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.
1998: Advertiser of the Year
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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.
2000: Honorary degree from CUOA Foundation
Rosso received an honorary degree from the CUOA Foundation of Altavilla Vicentina, Italy, in 2000, which cited Diesel as "one of the entrepreneurial phenomena of the 1990s".
2001: Manufacturing and selling wine and olive oil
In 2001, Rosso began manufacturing and selling wine and olive oil at Diesel Farm.
2001: Grand Prix awards
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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: International Leading Entrepreneur Award
In 2004, Renzo Rosso received the International Leading Entrepreneur Award in Monte Carlo.
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.
2004: CNN Interview
In 2004, during an interview with CNN, Renzo Rosso mentioned that he spends his free time exercising, practicing Pilates, and cycling.
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.
2005: Honorary degree from University of Verona
In 2005, Rosso received an honorary degree from the University of Verona, Italy.
2005: "Man of the Year" by GQ
In 2005, Rosso was named "Man of the Year" by the German edition of GQ.
2005: Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team wins a Serie D championship
In 2005, under Rosso's leadership, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team won a Serie D championship.
2007: Grand Prix awards
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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: Promotion to Serie C
In 2008, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team achieved promotion to Serie C.
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.
2009: Serie C Italian Cup
In the 2008/2009 season, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team won a Serie C Italian Cup.
2009: Grand Prix awards
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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: Grand Prix awards
Rosso received Grand Prix awards in 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and Advertiser of the Year in 1998.
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.
October 2011: Rosso knighted Cavaliere del Lavoro
In October 2011, Renzo Rosso was knighted Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano.
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.
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.
2013: Lega Pro Seconda Divisione championship
In 2013, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team won a Lega Pro Seconda Divisione championship.
2014: Supercoppa di Lega di Seconda Divisione
In the 2013/2014 season, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team won the Supercoppa di Lega di Seconda Divisione.
2015: Diesel Farm starts to become fully organic
In 2015, Diesel Farm started the process to become fully organic.
2015: Honorary doctorate in business economics
In 2015, Renzo Rosso received an honorary research doctorate in business economics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
2015: Playoff final
In the 2014/2015 season, the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team reached a playoff final.
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.
June 2018: Rosso led the club until June 2018
Rosso led the Bassano Virtus 55 Soccer Team until June 2018, leading it to achieve the most important results in its history.
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.
2019: Publication of "Diesel Dream Disruption Deviation Denim"
In 2019, Renzo Rosso oversaw the publication of the book "Diesel Dream Disruption Deviation Denim".
March 2022: Rosso's third marriage
In March 2022, Renzo Rosso secretly married Arianna Alessi in Miami.
2022: Net worth estimated by Forbes
In 2022, Forbes estimated Renzo Rosso's net worth to be US$3.6 billion.
2023: Rosso reveals his marriage
In 2023, Renzo Rosso revealed that he had married Arianna Alessi in Miami in March 2022.
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