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8 of the richest fashion designers in the world – net worths, ranked: from US billionaires Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford, to Italy’s Miuccia Prada, Giorgio Armani and Valentino
STORYLynn Farah
- Before Valentino Garavani retired in 2008, he designed wedding dresses for Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Kennedy, while Armani expanded into hotels in 2005
- Tom Ford worked for Gucci before launching his own eponymous brand, and in 2022 sold his stake – along with that in his fragrance and cosmetics businesses – to Estée Lauder for USS$2.8 billion
Tech bros aren’t the only ones rolling in billions – fashion’s biggest names are a wealthy lot, too. While dressing the world’s stars and dreaming up era-defining styles, plenty of fashion designers have achieved billionaire status during their expansive careers. Because what would the world be like without Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino? A lot less fashionable, that’s for sure.
So who are some fashion designers with the biggest net worths, according to Forbes? Let’s take a look.
8. Valentino Garavani, 91
Estimated net worth: US$1.5 billion
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The founder of one of the most renowned fashion brands in the world, Italian designer Valentino Garavani has created everything from clothing and bags, to shoes, perfumes and accessories. After over four decades as an industry leader, designing wedding dresses for the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Jennifer Lopez, Valentino announced his retirement in early 2008 after his final haute couture show in Paris.
These days, the designer and his former lover and associate Giancarlo Giammetti own an expansive property portfolio of homes and flats around the globe, per Vanity Fair, including in London’s Holland Park and Château de Wideville outside Paris. Celebrity Net Worth puts his net worth at US$1.5 billion.
7. Tom Ford, 62
Estimated net worth: US$2.2 billion
Fashion designer Tom Ford founded his brand Tom Ford International in 2005, but first he made a name for himself as the creative director of Gucci between 1994 and 2005, where he helped grow its revenue twelvefold to US$3 billion, per Forbes.
In November 2022, Ford sold his stake in Tom Ford International – along with his fragrance and cosmetics businesses – to Estée Lauder for an impressive USS$2.8 billion, taking his personal net worth to a whole new level.
5 and 6. Domenico Dolce, 65, and Stefano Gabbana, 61
Individual estimated net worths: US$2.6 billion
