Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand. Ralph Lauren was born as Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx New York to immigrant Jewish parents from Pinsk, Belarus. Lauren grew up in the New York City and attended Baruch College in Manhattan for two years before dropping out. He never attended fashion school but he did work as a salesman for Brooks Brothers.

In 1967 with the financial backing of clothing manufacturer Norman Hilton, Lauren opened a neck tie store where he sold ties under the “Polo” label. In 1972 Lauren released his famous short sleeve mesh shirt with a polo logo. He eventually expanded the Polo line into women’s wear and it quickly grew into the giant fashion company it is today. On June 11, 1997, Polo Ralph Lauren became a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RL. By 2007 the company had 35 boutique stores in the United States and many more across the globe.

Lauren has an estimated fortune of $6.1 billion, making him the 53rd richest person in America. The fashion icon has donated his money to many charities including Memorial Sloan Kettering which is a health center on the leading edge of medical research. Lauren is also a huge car enthusiast who has a collection of over 70 rare and expensive automobiles. Ralph Lauren is available for speaking engagements, hosting and corporate appearances.