The Richest: How to Earn Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Other Billionaires in Fashion

The Australian GQ published a ranking of the richest players of the fashion industry.

Bernard Arnault tops the rating, Forbes estimated his fortune at $137 billion. His LVMH group operates such brands as Louis Vuitton and Sephora and posted record sales and profits in 2018.

The second place is taken by Spanish businessman Amancio Ortega, co-founding Inditex which is known for its Zara fashion chain. Ortega owns about 60 per cent of Madrid-listed Inditex which has 8 brands, including Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear. His fortune is estimated at 93.1 billion.

The richest woman in the world, Bettencourt Meyers and her family own 33 per cent of L’Oreal stock, which recorded its best sales growth in more than a decade in 2018. She has 78.3 billion.

Phil Knight, the founder of sportswear giant Nike, has made quite the fortune

(50.9 billion), Francois Pinault (48.2 billion), the owner of Uniqlo Tadashi Yanai (36.1 billion). Chairmen of Chanel, the French luxury brand, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer have one of the most envious fortunes in the fashion world – 34 billion. Brothers are followed by Leonardo Del Vecchio (28 billion), Leonard Lauder (26.6 billion), Stefan Persson (25.3 billion), Galen Weston (12.1 billion) and Ma Jianrong (11.5 billion dollars).

The 13-th place is given to Ralph Lauren – founder of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation. By 80, the designer was able to earn $9.7 billion.

When it comes to the luxury diamond jewellery market, Laurence Graff, the head of the Graff Diamonds International enterprise is sitting amongst the very top.

Lawrence collaborated with Elizabeth Taylor and Oprah Winfrey, and now his fortune is estimated at $8.7 billion.

The designer and founder of Armani fashion house Giorgio Armani closes the rating. Forbes estimates his fortune at $8.4 billion. 85-year-old Armani is one of the richest men in Italy.