He was raised alongside his younger brother, later fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy (1927–2018).

His maternal grandfather Jules Badin (1843–1919) was the owner and director of the historic Gobelins Manufactory and Beauvais tapestry factories.

[1] Jean-Claude, as the elder of the brothers, inherited the family's marquessate at the death of their father.

[2][3] He started his career as an executive for Air France in New York City, but upon request in 1952 of his brother Hubert he returned to Beauvais to manage the Parfums Givenchy, which he later owned and was sold to Bernard Arnault's LVMH alongside the Givenchy fashion house.

[4] De Givenchy was married privately to American-born Patricia Marie Myrick (1926–2012),[5][6] daughter of an US Army colonel[6] and relative of the future American fashion designer Sarah Staudinger.