David Geffen: Co-founder of DreamWorks, with a net worth of $9.9 billion.
David Geffen, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, publicly came out as gay in 1992. This made him one of the first major executives in Hollywood to do so. His decision to come out was seen as a significant moment in the entertainment industry, as it challenged the prevailing norms and stereotypes about homosexuality in Hollywood.
Geffen’s sexuality has been a part of his identity and has influenced his philanthropic efforts. He has donated to causes that support the LGBTQ+ community, including the fight against HIV/AIDS. He has also been a vocal advocate for gay rights.
In his personal life, Geffen has had several relationships. He was in a relationship with Cher in the 1970s before he came out. After coming out, he has been linked to several men, including Steve Antin and Jeremy Lingvall.
Geffen’s life as a gay man in Hollywood has been marked by his openness about his sexuality and his efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community. His decision to come out publicly in 1992 was a significant moment in the entertainment industry and has been followed by increased visibility and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals in Hollywood.
- Giorgio Armani: Fashion designer with a fortune of about $8.1 billion.
Giorgio Armani, the renowned fashion designer, has been quite private about his personal life. Despite this, he has openly admitted to being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, identifying as bisexual. He had a long and strong relationship with his business partner, Sergio Galeotti, who was also his gay partner. However, Galeotti passed away in 1985 due to a heart attack.
Armani’s life and work as a designer have continued with remarkable success, often being compared to fashion greats such as Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Despite his success, he remains modest and is highly regarded as one of fashion’s most distinguished leaders.
Armani is currently married to Roberta Armani.
- Peter Thiel: Co-founder of PayPal, worth $5 billion.
Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and a prominent venture capitalist, has been open about being gay and has made several significant public statements about his sexuality and his views on gay rights.
Thiel first confirmed his sexuality publicly in 2007 after being outed by Gawker Media. He later funded a lawsuit against Gawker brought forward by Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) that resulted in a $140 million judgment against the media company, leading to its bankruptcy. Thiel referred to his financial support of this case as one of the “greater philanthropic things that I’ve done.” He stated that his motivation for this legal action was not revenge but “specific deterrence” against massive privacy violations. Thiel also has argued for the right of individuals, including athletes and business executives, to remain in the closet as long as they wish, thereby stressing the importance of online privacy.
Thiel has supported mostly conservative gay rights causes like the American Foundation for Equal Rights and GOProud, and in 2012 he donated $10,000 to Minnesotans United for All Families to fight a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota5. In 2016, during the Republican National Convention, Thiel announced on stage that he was “proud to be gay,” making him the first openly gay speaker in the history of the Convention.
However, Thiel’s views on gay rights and his place within the LGBTQ community have been a topic of debate. While some view his presence and statements at the Republican National Convention as a form of progress, others argue that he does not fully embrace the struggle of people to assert their distinctive identities. Thiel has referred to issues such as legislation concerning transgender people’s use of bathrooms as a “distraction” and has endorsed political platforms that some argue are harmful to LGBT people. Thiel’s approach to his sexual orientation is seen by some as separating himself from gay identity and not engaging in the political struggle to defend LGBTQ cultural identity.
- Jon Stryker: Heir to a medical equipment company, with a net worth of $4.3 billion.
Jon Stryker, an architect and philanthropist, is openly gay. He married his long-time partner Slobodan Randjelović in December 2016 and has two children from a previous marriage. Before starting his philanthropic work through the Arcus Foundation, he came out as a gay man around the year 2000, realizing that there was little funding for LGBT communities and that LGBT rights was a niche that was personally important to him and an area where he could have a significant impact as a donor.
In 2000, he founded the Arcus Foundation, a global funder of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, and also of great ape conservation. Since 2000, Arcus has awarded grants totaling more than $122 million in these two program areas. Stryker’s initial LGBT grants were to organizations in and around Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also funded “straight” organizations whose missions dovetailed with the foundation’s, but he stipulated that all grantees must have a board-approved nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
Stryker sees LGBT rights as part of the spectrum of human rights, including the freedom to define relationships and how individuals present themselves to the world. He emphasizes the need to increase awareness about the day-to-day realities of being gay or lesbian in different parts of the world, where in some countries homosexuality is punishable by death. He believes that the best protection for individual LGBT people around the world is for the broader human rights, civil rights, and funding communities to champion and support their efforts to achieve full LGBT rights.
- Stein Erik Hagen: Norwegian businessman worth $2.7 billion.
Stein Erik Hagen, a Norwegian billionaire, came out as bisexual on a talk show in October 2015. His ex-wives and family have known about his sexuality for many years.
In a later stage of his life, he moved in with his partner, Nicolay Herud, expressing happiness and satisfaction with his personal life. He also reflected on how societal attitudes towards homosexuality have changed over time, remarking that it would have been more difficult to come out 20-30 years ago due to societal taboos. However, in recent years, he has not experienced any negative reactions in the business world because of his sexuality.
In an interview from 2019, Hagen mentioned that he does not see the age difference between him and his partner as an issue, stating that he feels at least 30 years younger than his actual age.
- Jennifer Pritzker: Hotel heiress and the only openly transgender billionaire in the world, with a net worth of $2 billion.
Jennifer Natalya Pritzker is a member of the wealthy Pritzker family and a retired Army lieutenant colonel. She publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2013, making her the world’s first known transgender billionaire. The announcement made to her employees at Tawani Enterprises and the Pritzker Military Library specified that Pritzker would officially change her legal name and identify as a woman in all personal and business affairs from that point forward.
Pritzker is the founder and CEO of Tawani Enterprises, a private wealth management firm, and she inherited stakes in her family’s Hyatt Hotels chain as well as various industrial firms. In 2003, she opened the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, which houses a vast collection of more than 65,000 books and military artifacts.
In response to Donald Trump’s proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military, Pritzker offered to help find a better solution. Her philanthropic organization, the Tawani Foundation, contributes to educational initiatives, the preservation of military history, and LGBTQ organizations.
Pritzker married Erin E. Solaro on October 31, 2020.
- Domenico Dolce: Fashion designer worth $1.6 billion.
Domenico Dolce, along with his business partner Stefano Gabbana, are known for being open about their sexual orientation, coming out as a couple in 1999. They lived together in a 19th-century villa in Milan and owned several properties on the French Riviera and a villa in Portofino. They ended their long-time romantic relationship in 2003 but continued to work together at D&G1.
In 2015, Dolce’s comments about in vitro fertilization (IVF) sparked controversy. He stated, “I am gay. I cannot have a child. I believe you cannot have everything in life…. You are born from a father and a mother. Or at least that is how it should be. For this reason I am not convinced by what I call children of chemistry, or synthetic children. Uteruses for rent, sperm chosen from a catalogue.” These remarks led to a social media storm of criticism, leading to calls for a boycott of the D&G brand by figures such as Elton John, who has children by IVF with his husband David Furnish. Dolce later apologized for his remark.
As of 2023, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been leading their Italian label, Dolce & Gabbana, into new business ventures. After diversifying into perfumery, the metaverse, and homeware, the brand has now decided to move into the property market. The firm owned by Dolce and Gabbana plans to establish residential housing in the United States and Spain and also to start a hospitality project in the Maldives. They’re working with New York-based JDS Development Group in Miami, Florida, and Sierra Blanca Estates in Spain. For its first hotel project, D&G has chosen the Maldives, where it’s working with the Saudi luxury property developer, Dar Global
- Stefano Gabbana: Business partner of Domenico Dolce, also worth $2.2 billion.
Stefano Gabbana, one half of the fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, was born to a printing factory worker father and a mother who ironed clothes for a laundry service. He started the company with Domenico Dolce in 1985. Despite their personal relationship ending in 2003, the two still design for the company together and share ownership. Gabbana and Dolce were an open couple for many years and even after their relationship ended, they continued to work together at D&G.
As a high-profile individual in the fashion industry, Gabbana has been involved in a number of controversies. In 2013, both Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce were convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to a 20-month suspended sentence in prison, but they were cleared of wrongdoing by the appellate court in 2014. In 2015, Gabbana was involved in a public dispute with singer-songwriter Elton John over comments about in vitro fertilization (IVF) made by Dolce. Gabbana later clarified his views on IVF, saying that he supported it and was in favor of freedom, gay couples, and gay adoption4. In 2018, Gabbana faced backlash over racist comments regarding China, which the company said were made by a hacker.
As of May 2023, Gabbana has a net worth of approximately $2.2 billion and is one of the richest persons in Italy. He is currently 60 years old, single, and resides in Milan, Italy.
In terms of recent news, Dolce & Gabbana is renewing itself by expanding into new markets. The firm has announced plans to establish residential housing in the United States and Spain and is also hosting a hospitality project in the Maldives. They have shown willingness to venture into areas where other brands might hesitate, as demonstrated by their sponsorship of the lavish wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker last year, as well as launching a beauty division and a home collection.
- Tim Cook: CEO of Apple, worth $1.3 billion.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has been open about his sexuality since 2014 when he publicly came out as gay. He said he felt a “tremendous responsibility” to come out due to the discrimination and bullying that many young people face in relation to their sexual orientation. He was inspired by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Cook felt that he had been valuing his privacy over the potential to help others by sharing his truth.
In terms of his life as a gay man, Cook has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and has spoken out against laws restricting the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms. He has expressed deep concern about such laws, particularly those focused on vulnerable youth. Apple, under Cook’s leadership, joined more than 60 companies to oppose directives in Texas and Florida that limit the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms and treat parents who seek gender-reassignment treatments for their children as child abusers.
- Michael Kors: Fashion designer with a fortune estimated to be $600 million.
Michael Kors, born as Karl Anderson Jr., is an esteemed American fashion designer known for his luxury brand of the same name. He was born on Long Island, New York, and his parents are Joan Hamburger, a former model, and her first husband, Karl Anderson Sr. His mother remarried when he was five years old, and he took on his stepfather’s surname, Kors. At that time, his mother gave him the chance to choose a new first name, and he selected Michael. He was raised in Merrick, New York, and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York.
Kors is openly gay and married his long-term partner, Lance Le Pere, on August 16, 2011, in Southampton, New York, in The Hamptons.
In terms of recent news, Kors showcased a new collection in 2022 that has been described as the “antithesis of sad slipper life.” He aimed to bring joy and levity post-pandemic, focusing on bold, monochrome designs in a variety of vibrant or cool neutral colors. His collection included a range of pieces from classic menswear-inspired suits to athletically inclined eveningwear. A key feature of his collection was statement outerwear, inspired by Marilyn Monroe, in materials like double-face cashmere or faux fur. He also presented one-sleeve dresses and racerback shifts in clingy sequined jersey. Kors emphasized the importance of comfort in his designs, noting that even full-on evening looks should be as easy to wear as a T-shirt.
- Elton John: Musician with a fortune reportedly near $500 million.
Elton John has been an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ community for decades. He first publicly acknowledged his sexuality in 1976 when he came out as bisexual during an interview with Rolling Stone. By 1992, at age 45, he stated in the same magazine that he was “quite comfortable being gay”. He realized he was gay when he was 23, and he considers himself privileged as he is in an industry that generally accepts gay people. He often speaks out in support of young LGBTQ+ individuals who may be struggling with their sexuality or gender identity, encouraging them to be themselves.
Elton John is also a dedicated activist, particularly in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In 1986, he collaborated with other artists to record a song whose profits went to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. His annual Oscar viewing party has raised over $200 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation since its start in 1993.
In his personal life, Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have been together for over 26 years. They were among the first couples to register for a civil partnership in the UK when the Civil Partnership Act became law. They later married in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in the UK, and they have two sons5.
In terms of recent news, Elton John reassured fans about his health in 2023 after he was seen in a wheelchair. He explained that he was using the wheelchair to rest his hip after a show and emphasized that he is in good health and enjoying his performances. John had surgery on his hip the previous year after a fall, and he had to reschedule some tour dates due to the surgery and a positive COVID-19 test. He has stated that his ongoing Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour will be his final tour, as he wishes to spend more time with his family.
- Ellen DeGeneres: Comedian and talk show host with a net worth estimated at $370 million.
Ellen DeGeneres is a well-known American comedian, television host, and actress. She has been a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community since publicly coming out as gay in the late 1990s.
In April 1997, DeGeneres made a pioneering move by announcing her sexuality on the cover of Time magazine and coming out as a leading character on her sitcom, Ellen. Her character, Ellen Morgan, was the first leading character to come out on television, a decision that was viewed as potentially career-threatening at the time. Despite the controversy and the backlash from some quarters, the move was also seen as a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ acceptance. The outpour of support from the public was evident in viewing parties organized by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (now GLAAD) in major cities, and some sponsors opted in, paying over $300,000 for a 30-second spot on the show.
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was a huge success, running for 19 seasons and featuring nearly every A-list celebrity. The show played a significant role in promoting LGBTQIA+ representation and acceptance in the entertainment industry. However, allegations of a toxic workplace environment in 2020 tarnished her legacy. Following the controversy, she announced in 2021 that she was ending her show after its nineteenth season. The final episode aired on May 26, 2022.
After the show’s ending, DeGeneres has been spending quality time with her wife, Portia de Rossi. In the summer of 2022, they took a special trip to Rwanda for the dedication of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus — a project brought to fruition by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the Ellen Fund, and the MASS Design Group. The space is dedicated to protecting gorillas and conducting research. On January 31, 2023, de Rossi surprised her wife with a romantic vow renewal officiated by reality superstar Kris Jenner.
DeGeneres is also known for her passion for house flipping. She has flipped more than 50 properties in Southern California. She and de Rossi recently moved to a new place in Montecito, California, which DeGeneres has been fixing up.
