Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Born	October 14, 1939 (age 87); The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Fashion designer, philanthropist, entrepreneur
Years active	1967–present
Known for	Founder of Ralph Lauren Corporation

Ralph Lauren ( ; ; born October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire entrepreneur, renowned for establishing the globally recognized multibillion-dollar brand Ralph Lauren. Although he relinquished his role as CEO in September 2015, he continues to serve as executive chairman and chief creative officer. As of May 2025, his net worth is assessed at approximately US$11.9 billion.

Early life

Lauren was born in the Bronx, New York City, to Ashkenazi Jewish parents Frieda (née Cutler) and Frank Lifshitz, an artist and house painter originally from Pinsk, then part of the Second Polish Republic (now Belarus). The youngest among four siblings, he and his brother George legally altered their last name from Lifshitz to Lauren at age 16 due to bullying at school, following their elder brother Jerry’s earlier name change prompted by mistreatment during military service.

His education included attendance at day school and the Manhattan Talmudical Academy before graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1957. Lauren briefly pursued business studies at Baruch College (CUNY) but left after two years. He was part of a notable group of influential fashion figures raised within the Bronx Jewish community, alongside personalities such as Calvin Klein and Robert Denning.

Early career

Between 1962 and 1964, Lauren fulfilled his service in the United States Army. Following his discharge, he took a position as a sales assistant at Brooks Brothers before moving on to work as a salesman for Rivetz, a necktie manufacturer. At 28 years old, while employed at tie producer Beau Brummell, he persuaded the company president to allow him to initiate his own collection. This led to the founding of The Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967, starting with men's neckties.

Polo

Inspired by his passion for sports, Lauren named his initial comprehensive menswear collection 'Polo' in 1968. Operating from a single drawer in a showroom located in the Empire State Building, he personally handled product deliveries to retailers. By 1969, Bloomingdale's in Manhattan became the exclusive retailer of Lauren’s menswear line, marking the first occasion that the store featured an in-house boutique dedicated solely to one designer.

In 1971, Ralph Lauren Corporation introduced tailored shirts for women that featured the Polo player logo embroidered on the cuff. The brand’s first complete women's apparel collection followed in 1972. That same year, Lauren inaugurated a standalone boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, representing the first American designer store of its kind.

Also in 1972, the company launched its iconic cotton mesh Polo shirt emblazoned with the polo player emblem on the chest. This garment quickly became symbolic of the preppy aesthetic central to Ralph Lauren’s brand image. The advertising slogan proclaimed: "Every team has its color – Polo has seventeen."

In 1974, Lauren provided costumes from his Polo collection for the male cast of The Great Gatsby, reflecting authentic menswear styles of the 1920s; notably designing a pink suit worn by Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby. Later, in 1977, Diane Keaton and Woody Allen donned Lauren’s creations throughout Allen’s film Annie Hall.

Fragrance

Ralph Lauren’s inaugural fragrances were released under Warner-Lauren, Ltd., debuting at Bloomingdale's in March 1978: 'Lauren' for women on March 12 and 'Polo' cologne for men on March 26. This launch was notable as the first simultaneous introduction of designer scents for both men and women. The brand expanded its international presence in 1981 by opening its first standalone American designer boutique on New Bond Street in London's prestigious West End.

Later 20th century

In 1986, Ralph Lauren inaugurated his flagship boutique within the Rhinelander mansion on Madison Avenue, New York City, collaborating with designer Naomi Leff to restore the building’s original grandeur. The Polo Sport collection was launched in 1992, followed by more than ten additional lines and sub-brands, such as Ralph Lauren Purple Label in 1995 and Lauren Ralph Lauren in 1996.

Ralph Lauren Corporation became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange on June 12, 1997.

The brand diversified into the hospitality sector with the debut of the "RL" restaurant in Chicago in 1999, later opening "Ralph's" at its Paris flagship in 2010 and "The Polo Bar" at the New York flagship location in 2015.

Later years

In 2000, Ralph Lauren introduced polo.com as its e-commerce platform through RL Media, a partnership with NBC. The company took full ownership in 2007 and rebranded the site as ralphlauren.com. In 2008, it launched American Living exclusively for JCPenney, marking the largest joint brand launch across multiple categories for both companies.

Stefan Larsson was appointed CEO on September 29, 2015, succeeding founder Ralph Lauren, who continued serving as executive chairman and chief creative officer.

Ralph Lauren has graced over a hundred magazine covers, including prestigious publications such as Architectural Digest, GQ, Forbes, Town & Country, TIME, and Vogue.

To celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary, a fashion show took place at Bethesda Terrace in Central Park on September 8, 2018, attended by notable personalities including Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, Kanye West, Robert De Niro, and Jessica Chastain.

Family

On December 20, 1964, Ralph Lauren married Ricky Ann Loew-Beer in New York City. Their acquaintance began six months earlier when she was employed as a receptionist and dance instructor. Ricky Lauren authored The Hamptons: Food, Family and History and played a significant role in leading the capital campaign for the Park Avenue Synagogue completed in 2019.

The couple has three children, among them David Lauren and Dylan Lauren. In September 2011, David wed Lauren Bush, niece of former U.S. President George W. Bush. Dylan Lauren is also recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements.

In April 1987, Ralph Lauren underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, from which he made a full recovery.

Lauren owns a cattle ranch spanning 17,000 acres near Ridgway, Colorado, as well as a 17,000-square-foot estate located in Bedford, New York—both reflecting his commitment to luxury real estate investments.

Personal controversies

During the early 1990s, Ralph Lauren was reportedly involved in an extended extramarital relationship with model Kim Nye, who appeared in his Safari fragrance campaign. This relationship was detailed by journalist Michael Gross in his unauthorized biography published in 2003 entitled Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren, despite efforts by Lauren to exclude such information from authorized biographies.

Automobile collection

Ralph Lauren is widely known for his vast collection of automobiles totaling approximately one hundred vehicles that include rare and highly valuable models. Noteworthy pieces include a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, two Ferrari TRs, three 1996 McLaren F1s (among them an exceptionally rare McLaren F1 LM), a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, a 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre ("Blower Bentley"), a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a Bugatti Veyron, a 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi," a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia, and an uncommon Lamborghini Reventón Roadster.

His collection has twice earned "Best of Show" honors at the esteemed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance: first with the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic in 1990 and later with the 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" roadster in 1993. In 2005, seventeen vehicles from his collection were displayed at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Selections were also exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris in 2011. By 2017, during New York Fashion Week, Lauren’s automobile collection valued at $600 million attracted considerable public interest.

Philanthropy

Lauren has directed a significant portion of his charitable efforts toward cancer causes. In 1989, he co-established the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., paying tribute to the late Post fashion journalist, Nina Hyde. He led and created both the name and emblem for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, a CFDA initiative launched in 1994 that utilizes the fashion sector to generate awareness and funding for breast cancer worldwide. In 2003, Lauren aided in founding the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention located in Harlem, New York City, partnering with Memorial Sloan-Kettering and North General Hospital.

In 2014, Ralph Lauren Corporation collaborated with the Royal Marsden, Europe's largest cancer treatment center, to establish a leading breast cancer research institution, resulting in the opening of the Royal Marsden Ralph Lauren Center for Breast Cancer Research in 2016. By 2023, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention was inaugurated at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Ralph Lauren Corporation launched its Volunteer Program in 2000 to foster employee involvement within local communities. On September 15, it initiated the Pink Pony Campaign aimed at reducing disparities in cancer care by improving awareness, prevention, screening, and treatment access in underserved populations. The Polo Jeans G.I.V.E. (Get Involved, Volunteer, Exceed) campaign started in 2006 to encourage volunteerism supporting organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

Following the September 11th attacks, the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation established the American Heroes Fund, enabling its workforce of 10,000 employees and customers globally to contribute to relief initiatives.

The Polo Fashion School, founded in 2004, connects company leaders with youth from inner-city areas to offer insights into the fashion industry.

In 1998, Polo Ralph Lauren donated $10 million to Save America's Treasures for preserving the original 1813 Star-Spangled Banner flag that inspired the U.S. National Anthem; this flag was revealed in a new Smithsonian exhibit in 2008. In July 2013, Ralph Lauren Corporation pledged support for restoring the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, a premier French art institution.

Politics

Up until 2012, Lauren regularly made modest contributions to U.S. Democratic candidates, including a $35,800 donation to the Obama Victory Fund. In 2022, through individual contributions linked to Ralph Lauren Corp, $63,000 was given to Democratic entities and candidates.

Awards and honors

Year	Awards & Honors
1970	Awarded the Coty Award recognizing outstanding creativity in men's fashion design.
1973	Earned a second Coty Award for menswear; first menswear designer to receive two such honors.
1974	Received first Coty "Winnie" Award for womenswear design.
1975	Honored with American Fashion Award from Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
1976	Inducted into Coty Hall of Fame for Menswear; also won second Coty Award for Womenswear—first designer to achieve both distinctions in one year.
1977	Granted Coty Hall of Fame recognition for womenswear.
1979	Special acknowledgment for establishing American fashion on an international scale.
1981	Received inaugural CFDA Fashion Award.
1985	Honored with Designer Achievement Award by Menswear Association of America.
1987	Named CFDA "Retailer of the Year" for successfully adapting cinematic style into retail formats.
1988	Conferred honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute.
1989	Awarded Golden Plate by American Academy of Achievement for contributions to fashion and design.
1992	Presented with first-ever CFDA Lifetime Achievement award by Audrey Hepburn.
1995	Won CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award.
1996	Received Nina Hyde Center Humanitarian Award from Princess Diana; awarded honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Brandeis University; honored as CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year.
1997	Granted CFDA Humanitarian Leadership Award recognizing dedication to breast cancer causes.
2000	Inducted into Fashion Walk of Fame located in New York City's Fashion District.
2003	Ralph Lauren Corporation earned Restore America Heroes award from National Trust for Historic Preservation.
2007	Received American Fashion Legend Award presented by Oprah Winfrey at CFDA Awards ceremony.
2009	Won CFDA Popular Vote Award determined by public online voting.
2010	Presented key to New York City by Mayor Michael Bloomberg; awarded Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy acknowledging design and philanthropic achievements.
2012	Ranked first among global apparel companies on Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies."
2014	"The Dog Walk Campaign" earned Clio Image Award for Partnerships and Sponsorships; Omotesando RRL Store in Tokyo won Architectural Design category; received Smithsonian's James Smithson Bicentennial Medal honoring entrepreneurship and preservation efforts including Star-Spangled Banner project.
2016	Honored alongside Leonardo DiCaprio at Riverkeeper Fishermen's Ball; awarded inaugural John B. Fairchild Honor by Women's Wear Daily.
2017	Named Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE); received award from Prince Charles during private Buckingham Palace ceremony in 2019.
2025	Bestowed Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden, becoming first fashion designer recipient of this distinction.

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