Tom Ford Biography & Net Worth

Tom Ford Biography & Net Worth

Thomas Carlyle Ford, or simply Tom Ford, is an American fashion designer and film producer. He launched his luxury brand in the year 2006, having previously worked at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as the creative director. Gifted in several aspects, Ford directed the Academy Award–nominated films ‘Nocturnal Animals’ (2016) and ‘A Single Man’ (2009). At present, he serves as Chairman of the Board of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. His lucrative career has made him famous and wealthy at the same time. But how much does he earn from all of these ventures? Read on to learn more.

Tom Ford’s Early Life

Ford was born in Austin, Texas, United States on August 27, 1961. He is the son of realtors Thomas David Ford and Shirley Burton (née Shirley Ann Thrasher). He experienced his early childhood in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, and also in San Marcos, outside Austin. When he was eleven, his family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he registered at St. Michael’s High School and later enrolled at Santa Fe Preparatory School, from where he graduated in 1979.

Aged 16, Thomas was enrolled at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. However, he quickly dropped out and moved to New York to study art history at the New York University. While focusing on his studies in New York, he met Ian Falconer, who led him to a studio named Studio 54 for the first time. He dropped out after one year and started focusing on acting in television commercials.

Ford started studying interior architecture in New York City. He kept going to Studio 54, where he discovered that he was gay. The club’s disco-era glamour eventually became a major influence on his future designs. Before his last year at the New School, Tom Ford spent eighteen months in Paris, where he worked  in Chloe’s press office, as an intern, inspiring his interest in fashion. He spent his final year at New School learning fashion, but graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Tom Ford’s Career

Before graduating, Ford spent over a year in Paris as an intern at the Chloe luxury fashion house. After he received his college degree, he kept applying for a position at Cathy Hardwick fashion house to get a job. It eventually worked in his favor and he got his chance to work as a fashion assistant with Cathy for two years.

After his first work with Cathy, Tom Ford worked for Perry Ellis but eventually left after two years. Up next, he landed a job at the Italian brand “Gucci,” and after one year he took the position of design director. He contributed so much to the company that they had to employ four people to replace him after he left in 2004.

When Tom Ford left Gucci, he launched his self-titled brand which is now world famous. Away from fashion, he has worked on television as a writer, producer and director of the two hit movies “A Single Man,” released in 2009, and the 2016 thriller “Nocturnal Animals.”

Awards & Achievements

Ford’s works so far has earned him several award nominations and winnings. For his first movie as a director “A Single Man”, he won Queer Lion trophy, Bodil Award for Best American Film, CinEuphoria Award,  Audience Award, and the German Art House Cinemas Guild Film Award. For his second film “Nocturnal Animals”, Tom won the Sierra Award for Best Screenplay, Grand Jury Prize, David di Donatello Miglior Film Straniero, and Hollywood Breakthrough Directing Award.

As a designer, he has also received awards such as the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award and the Menswear Designer of the Year.

Personal Life & Family

In 2014, Tom Ford married Richard Buckley, a journalist. They have been in a romantic relationship since the 1980s. Tom and Richard are the parents of Alexander John Buckley Ford. He was born in 2012.

Tom Ford Net Worth

This great fashion designer and filmmaker has been able to come up with something substantial in terms of wealth. After starting his career as an intern and fashion assistant, Tom Ford started his own luxury brand which has provided him most of his massive wealth.

Tom Ford net worth is nearly $550 million. He made his millions of dollars from working for the fashion designer Gucci for more than ten years. Establishing his own fashion label which deals with clothing, glasses, perfumes and accessories further boosted his wealth to its current figure. Just 59 years of age, Mr. Ford still has many years left in his career to continue to impress his customers and audience with his fashion products and films.