Virgil Abloh Net Worth: How Wealthy Was He?
Virgil Abloh was an American fashion designer, artist, and businessman with a net worth of 100 million dollars as of his death. He was a very influential figure in the fashion industry and had worked with various individuals and organizations, including Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Kanye West. Three years before his death, Virgil had been named one of the most influential people in the world.
Early Life and Education
Virgil Abloh was born in Illinois to Ghanaian parents; his mother was a seamstress, and his father was a manager of a paint company. He learned sewing from his mother, which was beneficial in his later career. About his education, Virgil graduated with a civil engineering degree before enrolling at the Illinois Institute of Technology for a Master’s in Architecture.
While doing his Master’s degree, Virgil Abloh became interested in fashion and design. Following his interest, he started designing t-shirts and writing blog articles for The Brilliance. Through fashion, Virgil got the chance to meet and work with American musician Kanye West, bringing him into the spotlight as he gained international fame.
Career
After his Master’s degree, Virgil Abloh was interning in Rome when he met Louis Vuitton CEO Michael Burke. Michael asked Virgil if he could consider working for Louis Vuitton. Additionally, Virgil started a fashion gallery in Chicago, which gave birth to several fashion stores.
Meeting Kanye West and Michael Burke opened many doors for Virgil Abloh. He started getting deals. Even Kanye asked him to be his agency’s creative director.
Off-White
In 2013, Virgil Abloh founded Off-White, a Milan-based fashion label. The label was critical in propagating his fashion design career. A year later, he launched a women’s wear showcased in a Paris fashion show. His brand was unique and became known to many due to the exceptional usage of zip-tie, quotation marks, barricade tape imagery, and capital letters. Over the years, the brand continued expanding, and by 2021, it was in 40 countries with over 50 retail locations.
Louis Vuitton
Virgil Abloh worked with Louis Vuitton up to his death. As of 2018, he had been named the associate director, and he was earning up to a salary of 10 million dollars a year. Besides, Louis Vuitton had various brands that contributed significantly to his net worth. In 2021, months before his death, Louis Vuitton acquired 60% of Virgil’s fashion label, Off-White, and he was promoted.
Virgil joined the fashion industry in the late 2000s, and by 2021, he had made over a hundred million dollars; this shows his determination and keenness to fashion detail. In a span of ten years, he had made millions and was ready to give back to the society.
Philanthropy
Coming from a humble background, Virgil Abloh wanted to give back to society. In 2020, he established a scholarship fund and donated 1 million dollars to help fund education for Black students. In the same year, his brand, Off-White, organized a fundraiser program and then donated the proceeds to Chicago CRED, an organization aimed at reducing gun violence.