Thomas Carlye Ford was born on 27 August 1961, in Austin, Texas USA, and is a film director, designer and businessmen, probably best known to the public as the director of the movie entitled “A Single Man”, which was released in 2009, with many notable stars including Nicholas Hoult, Julianne Moore, Colin Firth and Matthew Goode. Today Tom Ford lives in Italy, and continues raising money thanks to his great career in the clothing design and entertainment industries.
So just how rich is Tom Ford? Authoritative sources estimate that Tom’s net worth is over $70 million as of early-2018, accumulated through his involvement in the entertainment industry over a period now spanning well over 30 years.
Tom Ford Net Worth $70 Million
As an 11 year-old boy, Tom moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico with his parents, and there attended St. Michael’s High School and then Bard College at Simon’s Rock. However, college years were apparently not the greatest, as he dropped out after a short time, becoming involved in advertising commercials, but then attended The New School’s university, and studied interior architecture there. However, after his architectural studies Tom Ford decided to search for a job in the fashion industry, and tried to increase his net worth while working as a fashion assistant for the famous Cathy Hardwick – an American designer and writer – for whom he worked for two years. Then Ford moved to work with clothing design and manufacturer Perry Ellis, with whom he again stayed for two years, however, he wanted wider experience, and as Gucci were looking for inspiration at this time, in 1990 they hired Ford as the chief women’s ready-to-wear designer, and so Ford moved to Milan, where he significantly increased his reputation and net worth. After some time working diligently, Tom was able not only to increase his net worth, but also became one of the most important personalities in the company – he worked on advertising, and at the same time was also working as a creative director for Gucci, with considerable success.
In 2004, Ford’s net worth was already high enough that he was able to leave Gucci and start his own business, launching a line of self-titled menswear, but also successfully expanding to include women’s wear, which was taken up by many celebrities, including Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyonce. He himself was named in the “50 Best Dressed Over 50s” by the Guardian in 2013.
In 2005, Ford launched his film production company, and eventually began to work on his movie “A Single Man”, which when released in 2009 received several nominations both for the film and individuals, including for an Oscar. Tom Ford’s only other film to date – “Nocturnal Animals” was released in late 2016, to critical approval, and winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Talking about his personal life, already in college years Ford realized that he was gay, and is now married to Richard Buckley. Furthermore, the couple have a son Alexander John Buckley Ford. They split their time between residences in London, Los Angeles and Santa Fe, having also previously lived in Italy.
Satellite Auteur Award (2016), Style Icon Award (1999), International Award – Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA, 1995), Geoffery Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (2014, CFDA), VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards (Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards)
Nominations
British GQ's 50 best-dressed men in Britain (2015), International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame (2004), Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award (2004), DNR's Person of the Year (2007), André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
Movies
A Single Man (2009), Nocturnal Animals (2016), Quantum of Solace (2008), Zoolander (2001), Quantum of Solace (2008)
TV Shows
Lady Gaga: I Want Your Love (Video short, 2015, designer), Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008), Made in Hollywood (2009-2016), Good Morning America (2016), Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe (2007), The Anniversary Party (2001), Charlie Rose (TV Series, 1999-2009)
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Quote
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Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think there needs to be - I don't really like the word moral - a moral to the story. You need to think about it. Things can be entertaining, but if you leave the theater and it doesn't stay with you, doesn't haunt you, doesn't challenge you, then it's not successful, for me. So I hope to make films that make one think. [2016]
2
People don't understand it and they will probably laugh when they read this, but fashion is one of the most grueling, brutal industries in the world because we create a constant stream of product that is perishable. And it's speeding up so fast. People consume. They're bored. They consume. They're bored. They consume. They're bored.
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[observation, 2016] I am hoping for a Democratic president - though a female President won't be able to wear my clothes because they're too expensive. And I think that's absolutely right.
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I had a tiny bit of fashion training, but not really. I had no formal training as a film director either.
5
If you spend an hour and a half in a movie theater, it should challenge you.
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Fact
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Considers himself, first and foremost, a commercial designer who finds that filmmaking is what really speaks to his true artistic side.
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Counts George Cukor as one of his all-time favorite film directors and Cukor's Dinner at Eight (1933) as his all-time favorite film.
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Is a staunch democrat who declined an offer to dress Melania Trump way before she ever became First Lady.
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Pioneered the "see now, buy now" fashion philosophy whereby prospective customers can immediately purchase his product and not have to typically wait for several months after a line of clothing has been showcased at fashion shows.
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For First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to Buckingham Palace (May 2011), Ford designed a white gown with a crisscross halter neckline and arm-length gloves for the regal occasion.
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During the interim between his directorial debut with A Single Man (2009) and Nocturnal Animals (2016), Tom opened a reported 100 stores worldwide.
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In 2013 hip-hop artist Jay Z dedicated a song to him simply titled "Tom Ford" (from the album "Magna Carta Holy Grail").
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First met partner Richard Buckley in 1986 at a fashion show in New York when he was just 25 and Buckley was 38. At the time Buckley was fashion editor of "Women's Wear Daily". Ford and Buckley tied the knot in 2014 after same-sex marriage was legalized in the US.
Throughout his illustrious career Tom has lived in Paris, Los Angeles and London where he maintains a home and business office and where his son was partly schooled.
Started his own line of menswear in 2006 after a promising liaison with Gucci and later Yves Saint Laurent.
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He joined Gucci in 1990 as a designer when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. In 1994 he was promoted to creative director. By the time he left 10 years later (in 2004), Gucci was turning over profits in excess of $4 billion per annum.
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Grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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American fashion designer. He is known for his legendary turnaround of Gucci.
$70 Million
