Since the early 1990’s Renzo Rosso has won multiple awards across fashion, advertising and business.

In October 2011, Rosso was knighted Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. Founded in 1901 it is an order of knighthood awarded to those "who have been singularly meritorious" in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance. The award ceremony took place at the Quadriennale in Rome and was broadcast live on RAI television in Italy.

Rosso has received the Advertiser of the Year in 1998 and Grand Prix awards in 2010, 2009, 2007, 2001, 1997, and 1992, at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.

In 2008, Rosso was named a Millennium Promise Millennium Development Goals Global Leader in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals Summit, at the United Nations in New York.

In 2006 Hollywood Life magazine prized Rosso with the “Fashion Visionary” award in Los Angeles, and cited Diesel “as one of the most innovative and successful brands in fashion.”

In 2005, Rosso was named "Man of the Year" by the German edition of GQ; received the Pitti Imagine Award in Florence; the Creative Vision of Business Award by the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni; and the Textilwirtschaft Forum Preis in Heidelberg for his “outstanding personal and business achievements in the fashion and textile industry.”

In 2004 Rosso received the International Leading Entrepreneur Award in Monte Carlo. Presented at the Monaco Investors Week it honors the efforts of a businessman who represents vision, professional ethics and the courage to undertake a particular venture.

In 2003 Rosso received Movieline’s Hollywood Life’s Annual Breakthrough of the Year Award in Los Angeles, acknowledging how Diesel had managed to break through into the American market.

In 1997, the English music and trend magazine Select cited Renzo as one of “The 100 most important people in the world who will contribute to the shape of the new millennium.” That same year Ernst & Young nominated Rosso as “Entrepreneur of the Year” for Diesel’s strong development in the U.S.

In 1996, Rosso and Diesel received the "Premio Risultati" award for “Best Italian Company of the Year” from Bocconi University in Milan.

Rosso has received honorary degrees from University of Verona, Italy, in 2005; and from the CUOA Foundation of Altavilla Vicentina, Italy, in 2000, who cited Diesel as "one of the entrepreneurial phenomena of the 1990’s.”