Roberto Cavalli, a fashion designer, went suddenly at the age of 83.

The Italian designer came from a family of painters and is thought to be worth around £400 million ($497 million). For many years, the international jet set favored Cavalli because of his extravagant animal prints and penchant for pythons.

After a protracted illness, Cavalli passed away at home in Florence, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

Sergio Azzolari, the CEO of Roberto Cavalli, posted a message on Instagram expressing his sympathies to Cavalli’s family and expressing the sadness of the firm over his passing.

Cavalli was well-known for his affinity for large cigars, Ferraris, and his trademark unbuttoned dress shirts that showed off his tanned chest. Along with owning a Tuscany vineyard and a purple helicopter, he was well-known to many Hollywood celebrities by first name.

Cavalli has been dating Swedish model Sandy Nilsson, who is forty-five years his junior, since 2014. Cavalli’s father, who was slain by the Nazis during World War II, was honored by the name Giorgio, the kid they welcomed last year. In an emotional statement, Cavalli revealed the news, stating, “The baby was born in Florence a week ago. I cried a lot when I saw him shortly after his birth since he is so gorgeous. Like his grandpa, my father, who was shot by the Nazis at the Cavriglia massacre when I was four years old, has the same name, Giorgio.

With Silvanella Giannoni, his first wife, whom he married in 1964 and divorced ten years later, Roberto Cavalli had two children: Tommaso and Cristina. In addition, he had three children from his second marriage to former Miss Europe Eva Maria Duringer: Robert, Rachele, and Daniele.

After his father passed away and left him silent until he was eighteen, Cavalli frequently talked about the difficulties he had to overcome as a child. “My father was shot by the Germans during a raid on Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni in July 1944,” he remembered. He was employed by a Valdarno mine as a surveyor. I waited till I was eighteen to speak. However, I have had a good life and have been rewarded for everything.

Born in Florence, Italy, on November 15, 1940, a city well-known for its leatherwork, Cavalli rose to prominence with his use of stretchable, sandblasted denim and patterned leather. In 1975, he launched his own company, which soon gained popularity for its animal print apparel, which was worn by Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian.

When Cavalli was hired in 2005 to revamp the legendary Playboy Bunnies costume, he naturally chose a leopard print design.

Giorgio Armani said on X (previously Twitter) that Cavalli was a “true artist” and that he will be “greatly missed.” “I have never had a more different view of fashion than Roberto Cavalli’s, but I have always had a lot of respect for him,” Armani said. Roberto was a great artist, and he made amazing and wild use of prints. He could transform dream into sultry attire. His departure has taught me with deep grief that his Tuscan zest will be much missed.

Adriana Lima, a Victoria’s Secret model, posted a picture of herself with Cavalli on her Instagram stories and captioned it, calling him a “legend.” She also said, “Not sorry in style and spirit.” Today, we lost a wonderful individual. Peace be with you.

Former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham also gave him her respect, referring to him as a “icon.”