Ralph Lauren | |
|---|---|
 Lauren in 2013 | |
| Born | Ralph Lifshitz (1939-10-14)October 14, 1939 (age 86) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Baruch College (dropped out) |
| Occupation(s) | Executive chairman,Ralph Lauren Corporation |
| Board member of | Ralph Lauren Corporation Club Monaco |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingDylan andDavid Lauren |
| Relatives | Greg Lauren (nephew) |
Ralph Lauren (/ˈlɔːrən/LOR-ən;né Lifshitz; born October 14, 1939) is an Americanfashion designer,philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for founding the brandRalph Lauren, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He stepped down as CEO of the company in September 2015 but remains executive chairman andchief creative officer.[1] As of May 2025, his net worth is estimated at US$11.9 billion.[2]
Lauren was born on October 14, 1939, inthe Bronx, New York,[3][4] toAshkenazi Jewish immigrants[5][6][7][8] Frieda Lifshitz (née Cutler) and Frank Lifshitz (né Efraim Lifshitz),[9] an artist and house painter,[10][11] fromPinsk, Second Polish Republic (nowBelarus).[12][13] The youngest of four siblings,[14][15] he has two brothers and one sister. At the age of 16, he and his brother George Poitras Lauren legally changed their last name from Lifshitz to Lauren, due tobullying at school.[16] His choice of the name followed his older brother Jerry Lauren, who had first done so after experiencingbullying in the U.S. Air Force.[17]
Lauren attendedday school followed by theManhattan Talmudical Academy, before eventually graduating fromDeWitt Clinton High School in 1957.[18] He attendedBaruch College of theCity University of New York (CUNY), where he studied business, although he dropped out after two years.[19]
He was one of several design leaders raised in the Jewish community in the Bronx, along withCalvin Klein andRobert Denning.[20][21]
From 1962 to 1964, Lauren served in theUnited States Army. After his discharge, he worked briefly forBrooks Brothers as a sales assistant before becoming a salesman for Rivetz, a necktie company.[22] At age 28, working for tie manufacturer Beau Brummell, Lauren convinced the company president to let him start his own line. He launched The Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967 with men's ties.[23]
Lauren named his first full line of menswearPolo in 1968. He worked out of a single "drawer" from a showroom in theEmpire State Building and made deliveries to stores himself.[24] By 1969, theManhattan department storeBloomingdale's had built a Poloshop-in-shop boutique.
In 1971, Ralph Lauren Corporation launched a line of tailored shirts for women, which introduced the Polo player emblem to the world for the first time, appearing on the shirt's cuff. The first full women's collection was launched the following year. In 1971 Lauren also opened a store onRodeo Drive inBeverly Hills, California; this was the first freestanding store for an American designer.[25]
In 1972, the Ralph Lauren Corporation introduced a signature cotton meshPolo shirt in various colors. Featuring the polo player logo at the chest, the shirt became emblematic of the preppy look—one of Ralph Lauren's signature styles. The tagline for the ad campaign was: "Every team has its color – Polo has seventeen."[26]
In 1974, he outfitted the male cast of the filmThe Great Gatsby in costumes from his Polo line – a 1920s-style series of men's suits and sweaters; a pink suit was designed by Lauren especially forRobert Redford's Jay Gatsby. In 1977,Diane Keaton andWoody Allen wore Lauren's clothes throughout Allen's filmAnnie Hall.[27]
The first Ralph Lauren fragrances, produced by Warner-Lauren, Ltd. were launched atBloomingdale's in March 1978. Lauren, a fragrance for women, on March 12 andPolo, cologne for men, on March 26. This was the first time that a designer had introduced two fragrances – one for men and one for women – simultaneously. The company entered the European market, and went international in 1981 with the opening of the first freestanding store for an American designer onNew Bond Street in theWest End of London, England.[citation needed]
In 1986, Ralph Lauren opened his first flagship in theRhinelander mansion onMadison Avenue and 72nd Street in New York City. Lauren re-created the building's original opulence with a young design consultant named Naomi Leff, with whom he had previously worked on Ralph Lauren Home.[28] The Polo Sport line was introduced in 1992 followed by over ten additional lines and acquired brands, including Ralph Lauren Purple Label in 1995 and Lauren Ralph Lauren in 1996.[citation needed]
On June 12, 1997, the company became apublicly traded company on theNew York Stock Exchange.[29]
The 98-seat restaurant "RL" opened in March 1999 inChicago. The restaurant occupies in a newly constructed building adjacent to the largest Ralph Laurenflagship store in the world — on the corner ofChicago Avenue andMichigan Avenue. It was followed by the opening of two additional restaurants – "Ralph's" at 173Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris flagship store in 2010 and "The Polo Bar" at Polo's flagship in New York in 2015.[30]
In 2000 the company launched polo.com as its website and online shop, through RL Media (a cooperation between Ralph Lauren andNBC). In 2007, Ralph Lauren Corporation acquired the NBC share of RL Media and the web site was relaunched as ralphlauren.com. In 2008, Ralph Lauren Corporation launched a brand called American Living, exclusively for JCPenney. It was the largest cross-category brand launch in the history of Ralph Lauren and JCPenney. On September 29, 2015, it was announced thatStefan Larsson would replace the company's founder, Ralph Lauren, as CEO in November. Lauren will stay on as executive chairman and chief creative officer.[31][32]
Lauren has appeared on over 100 magazine covers includingArchitectural Digest,GQ,Forbes,Town & Country,TIME andVogue.[citation needed]
Lauren celebrated the 50th anniversary of his brand in a fashion show atBethesda Terrace inCentral Park on September 8, 2018. Attendees includedOprah Winfrey,Hillary Clinton,Kanye West,Robert De Niro, andJessica Chastain.[33]
On December 20, 1964, Lauren marriedRicky Ann Loew-Beer in New York City. The two had met six months earlier, in a doctor's office where she was working as a receptionist; on alternate days, she was teaching dance.[34] She is the author ofThe Hamptons: Food, Family and History.[35] The Laurens are members of thePark Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan, leading the synagogue's capital campaign that ended in 2019.[36]
They have three children, including[37]David Lauren[38][citation needed] andDylan Lauren.[39] In September 2011, David marriedLauren Bush, the niece of former U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush.[40][41][42][43][44]
In April 1987, Ralph Lauren underwent surgery to remove a benignbrain tumor and made a full recovery.[45]
Lauren owns a 17,000-acre cattle ranch inRidgway, Colorado,[46] and a 17,000 sq foot manor built in 1919 inBedford, New York.[47]
During the early 1990s, Ralph Lauren reportedly had a prolonged extramarital affair with model Kim Nye, who was featured in his Safari fragrance campaign. According to journalist Michael Gross, Lauren sought to have details of the relationship removed from authorized biographies. The alleged affair was mentioned in multiple media outlets and documented in Gross’s 2003 unauthorized biography,Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren.[48][49][50]
Ralph Lauren is well known as a collector of automobiles,[51] with about 100 automobiles, some being extremely rare. He owns a 1962Ferrari 250 GTO, twoFerrari TRs, three 1996McLaren F1s (one of them an ultra-rareMcLaren F1 LM), aMercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, a 1929Bentley 4½ Litre ("Blower Bentley"), oneBugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff, aPorsche 911 GT3 RS, aBugatti Veyron, a 1930Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" (aka "The Black Prince"), a 1938Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia.[52] and a rareLamborghini Reventón Roadster.
His cars have won "Best of Show" at thePebble Beach Concours d'Elegance twice: His 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic won in 1990 and his 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" roadster won in 1993. In 2005 his collection was displayed at Boston'sMuseum of Fine Arts.[53] Seventeen cars from his collection were exhibited at theMusée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, in 2011.[54] In 2017, Lauren's now $600 million car collection took center stage during New York Fashion Week.
Lauren has focused a substantial amount of his philanthropy to addresscancer. In 1989, he co-founded the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research atGeorgetown University Hospital inWashington D.C. in memory of the latePost fashion correspondent,Nina Hyde.[55] He served as chairman and created the name and symbol for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, a charitable initiative of the CFDA that founded in 1994 that marshals the goodwill and services of the fashion industry to raise public awareness and funds for breast cancer internationally.[56] In 2003, Lauren supported the establishment the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention inHarlem, Manhattan, New York City. The center is a collaboration between Ralph Lauren, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and North General Hospital in Harlem.[57] In 2014, the Ralph Lauren Corporation partnered with theRoyal Marsden, the largest and most comprehensive cancer center in Europe, to develop a world-class breast cancer research facility.[58] They opened the Royal Marsden Ralph Lauren Center for Breast Cancer Research in 2016.[59] In 2023, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention was opened at theLombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center ofGeorgetown University.[60]
In 2000, the Ralph Lauren Corporation launched its Volunteer Program, which energizes employees and creates meaningful connections with the communities in which they work.[61] On Friday, September 15, Ralph Lauren Corporation launched the Pink Pony Campaign, a national initiative to reduce disparities in cancer care by raising awareness as well as enhancing prevention, screening, and treatment in poor and underserved communities.[62] Similarly, in 2006, the Polo Jeans G.I.V.E. (Get Involved, Volunteer, Exceed) campaign was created to inspire and encourage community service through volunteerism by supporting the efforts of dedicated volunteers and their causes, includingHabitat for Humanity.[63]
The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation established the American Heroes Fund following theSeptember 11th attacks to allow Polo's 10,000 employees worldwide, as well as their customers, the opportunity to participate in the relief effort.[64]
The Polo Fashion School was established in 2004, in which company executives work with inner-city youth to offer insights into the fashion business.[65]
TheStar-Spangled Banner, the original 1813 flag that inspiredFrancis Scott Key to write theUnited States National Anthem, was preserved by a $10 million contribution toSave America's Treasures from Polo Ralph Lauren in 1998. The flag was then unveiled on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, in a new gallery at theSmithsonian National Museum of American History, in Washington, D.C.[66] Ralph Lauren Corporation announced in July 2013 its commitment to restore the eliteÉcole des Beaux-Arts inParis, one of the most influential art schools in France.[67]
As recently as2012, with a $35,800 donation to theObama Victory Fund, Lauren made regular small donations to U.S.Democratic candidates.[68] In 2022, the Ralph Lauren Corp, through individuals, donated $63,000 to Democratic organizations and individuals.[69]
| Year | Awards & Honors |
|---|---|
| 1970 | A jury of men's fashion editors select Lauren to receive theCoty Award for the highest creativity of the year in men's fashion design.[70] |
| 1973 | Ralph Lauren wins his second Coty Award for menswear. It is the first time a menswear designer has been a two-time Coty winner.[71] |
| 1974 | Ralph Lauren wins his first Coty "Winnie" Award for womenswear.[72] |
| 1975 | Ralph Lauren wins the American Fashion Award from theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America.[73] |
| 1976 | Ralph Lauren enters the Coty Hall of Fame for Menswear, and also wins his second Coty Award for Womenswear, the first time a designer has won awards for both menswear and womenswear in the same year. |
| 1977 | Ralph Lauren receives the Coty Hall of Fame award for womenswear.[74] |
| 1979 | Ralph Lauren receives a special citation for his direct influence in establishing American fashion on a worldwide basis.[75] |
| 1981 | At the first Council of Fashion Designers of America award ceremony, Ralph Lauren wins his first CFDA Fashion Award.[76] |
| 1985 | Ralph Lauren receives the Menswear Association of America's Designer Achievement Award.[77] |
| 1987 | At the CFDA Awards, Ralph Lauren is awarded 1986 "Retailer of the Year" for transforming the cinematic feel of his clothing into a physical environment.[78] |
| 1988 | Pratt Institute awards Ralph Lauren with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts.[79] |
| 1989 | Ralph Lauren receives TheAmerican Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award in 1989 for fashion and design. The Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Achievement to approximately 25 recipients, chosen for their exceptional accomplishments in the sciences, professions, business, industry, arts, literature, sports, entertainment, and public service.[80][81] |
| 1992 | Ralph Lauren receives the first-ever CFDA Lifetime Achievement award—an honor created specifically for him and presented with heartfelt recognition byAudrey Hepburn.[82] |
| 1995 | Ralph Lauren receives the CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year.[83] |
| 1996 | Ralph Lauren is honored with the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research's first Humanitarian Award, which is presented to Lauren byPrincess Diana.[84] |
| 1996 | Receives an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters fromBrandeis University for his commitment to arts and education, and for his prominent role in the fight against breast cancer.[85] |
| 1996 | Ralph Lauren receives the CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year.[70] |
| 1997 | Ralph Lauren wins CFDA's Award for Humanitarian Leadership in recognition of his commitment to fighting breast cancer.[86] |
| 2000 | In celebration of his contribution to American style, Ralph Lauren is among the first designers inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame in the center of New York City's Fashion District.(Garment District, Manhattan)[87] |
| 2003 | Ralph Lauren Corporation receives a Restore America Heroes award from The National Trust for Historic Preservation.[88] |
| 2007 | Ralph Lauren wins the American Fashion Legend Award, presented byOprah Winfrey on June 4 at the CFDA Awards, held at theNew York Public Library.[89] |
| 2009 | Ralph Lauren wins the CFDA's newly created Popular Vote Award, given to the designer who receives the most votes cast online by the public.[90] |
| 2010 | New York City MayorMichael Bloomberg presents Ralph Lauren with akey to the city.[91] |
| 2010 | In a private ceremony at theÉlysée Palace, Ralph Lauren receives theChevalier de la Légion d'honneur fromNicolas Sarkozy, President of the Republic of France, in recognition of his contributions as a designer, business leader, and philanthropist.[92] |
| 2012 | Ralph Lauren tops the list for the global apparel industry category for the first time inFortune's "World's Most Admired Companies" 2012."[93] |
| 2014 | The Company's "The Dog Walk Campaign" wins the Clio Image Award in the category for Partnerships and Sponsorships, while the Omotesando RRL Store in Tokyo, Japan, wins for the category of Architectural Design.[94] |
| 2014 | The Smithsonian presents Ralph Lauren with theJames Smithson Bicentennial Medal. The medal recognizes Lauren's lifetime contributions to American entrepreneurship, artistry, and creativity as well as acknowledging the critical leadership role Lauren played in helping preserve theStar-Spangled Banner as part of "Save America's Treasures" initiative established byHillary Clinton when she served asFirst Lady.[95] |
| 2016 | Ralph Lauren andLeonardo DiCaprio are honored at the 50th Anniversary Riverkeeper Fishermen's Ball at Chelsea Piers in New York City.[96] |
| 2016 | Ralph Lauren receivesWomen's Wear Daily's inaugural John B. Fairchild Honor.[97] |
| 2017 | Lauren is appointed anHonorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[98][99] On June 20, 2019, in a private ceremony atBuckingham Palace, he received the award fromPrince Charles.[100] |
| 2025 | January 4, 2025, he received thePresidential Medal of Freedom for his achievements in fashion and philanthropy fromPresident Joe Biden. He became the first fashion designer to receive this award.[101][102] |
At DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, Lauren attended business classes but paid little attention to studies. His adolescent idols were British and American style setters: theDuke of Windsor, for example, andKatharine Hepburn.
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