These fashionistas make a few bucks every time you go for a run, try on some jeans or buy a new pair of shades.
Ralph Lauren $4.7 billion
Fashion. New York City. 68. Married, 3 children
Clothing connoisseur grew up in the Bronx; first job at Brooks Brothers. Left business school to design ties for Beau Brummel 1967. Launched Polo later that year with $50,000. Sold 28% of company to
James Jannard $3 billion
The future's so bright, he's trading his Oakley shades for HD cameras. Sunglasses magnate finalized sale of Oakley to Italian design firm
Jim Davis & family $2.5 billion
New Balance. Newton, Mass. 65. Married, 2 children
New Balance Arch founded in 1906 to correct orthopedic foot problems. Bought company on day of Boston Marathon 1972; company had 6 employees. Shunned expensive endorsement deals with high-profile athletes, focused on selling comfort and performance to die-hard runners. Sales exceeded $1.6 billion last year; company makes 25% of its shoes in U.S. Expanding business to athletic equipment (lacrosse, hockey, soccer); bought Vital Apparel Group last December.
Richard A. Hayne $1.8 billion
lord of the hipsters makes triumphant return to The Forbes 400 after 2-year absence; Urban Outfitters stock up 80% since last August. Clothing retailer bucking downward slide among other fashionistas; first-quarter net income up 25% over same period last year to $394 million. Internet and catalog transactions driving growth. Plans to open 45 new locations this year. Adding to existing brands--Urban Outfitters, Free People, Anthropologie--with high-end gardening store Terrain; targets middle-age, suburban women with disposable income. Attributes firm's success to hiring young employees.
John Fisher $1.8 billion
Robert Fisher $1.5 billion
Gap. San Francisco. 55. Married, 3 children
William Fisher $1.4 billion
Gap. San Francisco. 51. Married, 3 children
Donald Fisher $1.3 billion
Gap. San Francisco. 80. Married, 3 children
Doris Fisher $1.3 billion
Gap. San Francisco. 77. Married, 3 children
Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher return to The Forbes 400 as the art market swells. Couple's large contemporary collection, featuring pieces by Chuck Close, Richard Serra and Alexander Calder, said to be worth more than $1 billion. Duo founded music-and-jeans store in San Francisco 1969; public 1976. Handed control of company--and nearly half their stock--to sons John, Robert and William in 2004; shares down 20% since. Company plans to close or downsize some of its 3,100 stores, open new ones; annual sales down 2.5% to $15.8 billion since 2004. Introduced universal Web site for its 4 brands: Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime. Expanding to Russia. William ran company's international stores until 1998. Robert stepped down as interim chief executive last August; still on board. John owns majority stake in pro baseball's Oakland A's.
Roger Wang $1.3 billion
Retail. Nanjing, China. 59. Married, 2 children
Took over as manager of a Thrifty Drug Store in Los Angeles after immigrating to U.S. 1971. Education: studied at Chinese Culture U. in Taiwan 1969, M.B.A. from Southeastern Louisiana 1973. Started Golden Eagle Retail Group 1992. Took public 2006. Today majority of wealth tied up in company; owns 72% of company's stock. Shares down 20% since January. Reported goals: keep net profit margin above 30%, expand beyond Chinese market. Recent donations to Nanjing Blind School.