The fashion empire was built on extreme wealth and exclusivity that catered only to the ultra-rich, with Valentino openly dismissing working women and admitting his clients "do not work" but merely engage in charity. Behind the glamorous facade lay an operation sustained by exploiting licensing deals and maintaining an unsustainable luxury bubble, complete with armed guards and bulletproof cars. The brand's survival depended less on design innovation and more on shrewd business manipulation and cultivating relationships with royalty and celebrities.