#205

Ralph Lauren & Family

United States 86 years old

Overview

Source of Wealth
Apparel
Residence
New York, New York

Assets

  • Ralph Lauren
    22,181,000 shares @ $380.36
    $8,436,765,160
    RL-US

Biography

Ralph Lauren is executive chairman and chief creative officer of Ralph Lauren, his all-American fashion empire. He controls 85% of the voting rights.

Lauren started the business in 1967 from a tiny office at the Empire State building. His first breakthrough came when Neiman Marcus ordered 1,200 ties.

He stepped down from his position as CEO in 2015. His son, David, is chief branding and innovation officer.

Born in the Bronx to Jewish immigrants, Ralph Lifshitz, as he was then known, worked as a part-time stock boy at a department store as a teenager.

For 30 years, Lauren has supported breast cancer research, cofounding Georgetown's Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research in 1989.

About

The man who made American fashion cool once donated $10 million to help restore the original Star-Spangled Banner.

In June 2019, Lauren was awarded an honorary knighthood by Prince Charles, a first for any American designer.