From a Drawer in the Bronx to a Fashion Dynasty
Ralph Lauren is one of the greatest visionaries in modern fashion, with a personal fortune tracked at over $14 billion. Born Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx, New York, to immigrant parents, he had no formal design education or family money.
The Spend Ralph Lauren Money Game lets you take charge of this classic American luxury fortune. Your challenge: see if you have the style and shopping stamina to spend down his multi-billion-dollar fortune all the way to zero.
Starting Polo from a Single Desk Drawer
In 1967, while working as a young necktie salesman, Ralph Lauren convinced a local manufacturer to back his vision of wide, European-style neckties made from rich fabrics. Working out of a tiny drawer in an Empire State Building showroom, he delivered the ties himself to high-end Manhattan department stores under the name Polo.
From that modest start, his empire expanded into an international lifestyle powerhouse:
- Global Fashion Icon: Today, Ralph Lauren Corporation designs everything from Olympic uniforms to everyday polo shirts, operating hundreds of luxury stores across North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Prestige Dining & Living: He expanded the brand into luxury home goods and fine dining, including the legendary Polo Bar in New York City, where reservations are among the hardest to secure in the world.
- The US Olympic Outfitter: His brand has designed the official opening and closing ceremony parade uniforms for Team USA at the Olympic and Paralympic Games since 2008.
The World's Most Invaluable Private Car Collection
While most billionaires spend their money on superyachts or private islands, Ralph Lauren is famous for building one of the rarest and most valuable classic automobile collections on Earth:
- The D.A.D. Garage: Housed in a custom-designed, museum-quality garage in Westchester County, New York, his collection is valued at over $350 million to $600 million.
- Rare Automotive Masterpieces: His collection includes one of only three 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics ever built (worth an estimated $40 million alone), a rare McLaren F1 LM, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and historic Le Mans-winning sports cars.
- The 16,000-Acre Colorado Ranch: He owns the historic Double RL Ranch in Telluride, Colorado, a working cattle ranch complete with original hand-built log cabins.
The Math of Spending $14 Billion
To see how far a $14+ billion fortune goes in the simulator:
- You could purchase 28 luxury superyachts priced at $500 million each.
- You could buy 28,000 classic vintage collector cars.
- You could fund high-fashion college degrees for over 70,000 students.
Scroll up to the simulator, select your favorite luxury items, print your final receipt, and see if your shopping choices can empty Ralph Lauren's bank balance.