The People Behind Iconic Brands
Brand names like Disney, Chanel, Ferrari, Gucci, and Adidas are recognized globally. However, the stories of the entrepreneurs who gave their names to these successful businesses are often less well known. Let's explore the remarkable journeys of these individuals.
Charles Lewis Tiffany
When many think of diamonds, they think of Tiffany and Co. Founder Charles Lewis Tiffany was born in Connecticut in 1812. In 1837, he borrowed $1,000 from his father and used it to co-found a small stationery store in New York. The store eventually branched out into selling fine glass and porcelain and began manufacturing its own jewelry.
Tiffany gained a reputation for selling only the finest goods and opened branches in Paris and London. In 1853, he took sole control of the company. At the time of his death in 1902, the company was worth $2 million, equivalent to over $73 million today. In 2024, the Tiffany and Co. brand was valued at $7.3 billion.
Thomas Lipton
Lipton Tea is an instantly recognizable brand name. Founder Sir Thomas Lipton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1850. He opened a small grocery shop in Glasgow in 1870 and soon expanded into a chain of shops across Britain, becoming a self-made millionaire by age 40.
Lipton built a tea empire by buying his own plantations in what is now Sri Lanka, reducing prices and making tea accessible to more families. Today, Lipton Tea is owned by CVC Capital Partners.
King Camp Gillette
King Camp Gillette, born in Wisconsin in 1855, invented the first-ever razor with disposable blades. His idea was to create an invention that would be used and thrown away, ensuring customers kept coming back. With no background in manufacturing, it took six years to perfect his design, leading to the mass production of blades in 1903.
Gillette razors were sold at a loss but made profit on the disposable blades. Today, Gillette is owned by Procter & Gamble and is the most well-known razor brand worldwide. The company was valued at $7.4 billion in 2024.
Coco Chanel
Famed for timeless designs such as the Chanel suit, the little black dress, and Chanel No.5 perfume, the Chanel brand represents sophistication and comfort. Gabrielle 'Coco' Bonheur Chanel was born in France in 1883. She was raised in an orphanage where she learned to sew, a skill that would later shape her future fortune.
After leaving the orphanage, Chanel worked various jobs, including as a seamstress and cabaret performer. Her innovative designs caught the attention of wealthy upper-class women, and her business grew. Even after her death in 1971, the Chanel fashion house continued to dominate. Today, the brand is worth $60 billion.
Guccio Gucci
The 2021 film House of Gucci explores the lives of Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci in the 1970s. However, the story begins with Guccio Gucci, born in Florence in 1881. Inspired by luxury luggage at the Savoy Hotel, he opened his first shop in 1921. By the time he died in 1953, the fashion house had stores throughout Italy and a new store in New York.
His sons expanded the family fashion empire, opening stores in London and Paris during the 1960s. Today, Gucci is a $15.6 billion business and one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari was born in Modena, Italy, in 1898. He fell in love with car racing at a young age. In 1919, he became a test driver for Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali and later joined the Alfa Romeo racing team. He opened Auto Avio Costruzioni to develop his own racing cars.
In 1947, he took the first official Ferrari, the 125 S, out for a test drive. The car achieved its first win that same year at the Rome Grand Prix. Today, the company is valued at over $77 billion.
Adolf Dassler
The myth that the name Adidas is an anagram for “all day I dream about sport” is false. The brand was named after founder Adolf ‘Adi’ Dassler, born in Germany in 1900. He and his brother Rudi started a shoemaking business before creating Adidas in 1949. Adidas quickly became popular, especially after the 1972 Olympics when every athlete wore their shoes.
Following Dassler’s death in 1978, the company was taken over by his son, Horst Dassler. Today, the Adidas company is valued at $15.7 billion.
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago in 1901. As a boy, he had a keen interest in drawing, which led to his success. By 18, he was working as a commercial illustrator. In the early 1920s, he set up Disney Brother Studios, where he created Mickey Mouse.
Disney went on to make films like Fantasia, Dumbo, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins. He also branched out into amusement parks, with Disneyland opening in 1955. Today, the Walt Disney Company is valued at around $240 billion.
Christian Dior
Christian Dior was born in Normandy, France, in 1905. Born into a wealthy family, he wanted a career in the arts. In 1942, he launched his own fashion house with the ‘New Look’ design, which launched his career as one of the most famous designers of the 1950s.
Despite his untimely death in 1957, the Dior fashion house found global success under numerous creative directors. In 2024, the Dior brand was valued at $10.4 billion.
Estée Lauder
Born in 1908 as Josephine Esther Mentzer, Estée Lauder was raised in Queens, New York. Her interest in skincare began as a teenager when her uncle created creams in the family kitchen. In 1946, she and her husband launched the Estée Lauder Company.
Lauder played an integral role in marketing her products and overseeing staff training. Today, her products are sold in over 150 countries. She was the only woman on Time magazine's list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century.
Tim Horton
Tim Hortons is Canada's largest quick-serve restaurant chain. Co-founded by Canadian professional ice hockey player Tim Horton in 1964, the chain has since expanded globally. Tragically, Horton died at 44 in a car crash. Today, there are over 5,000 Tim Horton restaurants across 14 countries.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1939. After studying business, he joined the US Army. Following his military service, he worked as a tie salesman at Brooks Brothers. In 1967, he launched the Ralph Lauren Corporation.
In 1968, he launched a full menswear line inspired by his love of sport. By the 1970s, he branched into womenswear. His signature preppy designs caught Hollywood's attention, and he outfitted the male cast of The Great Gatsby with his Polo line.
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein, born in 1942, was another successful fashion designer from the Bronx. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, he became the protege of Baron de Gunzburg. In 1968, he launched Calvin Klein Inc, which saw him become a shining star of the New York elite fashion scene.
Klein appeared on the cover of Vogue in 1969 and was voted into the Coty Hall of Fame at 33. Today, the Calvin Klein brand is famed for its underwear, fragrances, and watches.
James Dyson
James Dyson was born in Norfolk, England, in 1947. After studying furniture and interior design, he changed course and studied engineering. In 1978, he developed the first-ever bagless vacuum cleaner using cyclonic separation.
After creating 5,127 prototypes, he perfected his design. Today, Dyson is a globally recognized brand, and according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Dyson is the fifth richest person in the UK with a net worth of £20.8 billion.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were childhood friends from New York. In 1978, they took a correspondence course in ice cream making and opened their first store in Vermont. Their unique approach to ice cream, including chunks mixed in, led to the creation of an ice cream empire.
Cohen suffers from anosmia, which inspired the company's trademark chunks. In 2000, they sold the company to Unilever for $326 million. Though their names remain attached to the product, they hold no board or management positions.
Michael Dell
Michael Dell was born in Houston, Texas, in 1965. After starting a computer business while in college, he dropped out to focus on his company. His company brought in $6 million in its first full year of business in 1984.
Today, Michael Dell is the chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, one of the world’s largest tech companies. According to Forbes, he is currently the 12th richest person in the world with a net worth of $114.2 billion.
