Origins & Early Life

Ralph Lauren ( LOR-ən; né Lifshitz; born October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for founding the brand Ralph Lauren, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He stepped down as CEO of the company in September 2015 but remains executive chairman and chief creative officer. As of June 2026, his net worth is estimated at US$15.2 billion. Lauren was born on October 14, 1939, in the Bronx, New York City, to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants Frieda Lifshitz (née Cutler) and Frank Lifshitz (né Efraim Lifshitz), an artist and house painter, from Pinsk, Lithuania.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The youngest of four siblings, he has two brothers and one sister. At the age of 16, he and his brother George Poitras Lauren legally changed their last name from Lifshitz to Lauren, due to bullying at school. His choice of the name followed his older brother Jerry Lauren, who had first done so after experiencing 'humorous mispronunciations at roll call.' Lauren attended day school followed by the Manhattan Talmudical Academy, before eventually graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1957. He attended Baruch College of the City University of New York...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Yegorov (general) — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Soviet military leader and one of the original Marshals of the Soviet Union.
• Alphonse Mucha — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Master of Art Nouveau, famed for decorative posters and The Slav Epic.
• Amelia Earhart — Contemporary (Died in 1939) (1939): Iconic American aviator whose pioneering flights shaped early 20th-century aviation.
• Éamon de Valera — Shared historical date (10-14 · Born) (1882): Dominant Irish statesman, leading figure in the establishment of modern Irish governance.
• Ben Whishaw — Shared historical date (10-14 · Born) (1980): Acclaimed English actor known for Shakespearean roles and voicing Paddington Bear.
• Barbara Liskov — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering computer scientist known for data abstraction and the Liskov substitution principle.
• Barry Mann — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): American songwriter and musician known for successful collaborations, especially with Cynthia Weil.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Alan Bond — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Alan Greenspan — Historical peer (Died in 2026) (2026): Influential American economist, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• October 14 (10-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 14