Diane Von Furstenberg Net Worth

What is Diane von Furstenberg's Net Worth?

Diane von Furstenberg is an American fashion designer and philanthropist who has a net worth of $1.2 billion. Diane von Furstenberg rose to fashion prominence in the 1970s with her revolutionary wrap dress. This iconic design, combining femininity with practicality, became a symbol of women's liberation and professional advancement during a transformative era.

Before her fashion breakthrough, she married into European aristocracy through her union with Prince Egon von Furstenberg. Though they later divorced, she retained her title and distinctive name, which became her powerful brand identity.

A defining relationship in her life has been with media and business mogul Barry Diller. After years of friendship and an on-and-off relationship, the couple married in 2001. Their partnership extends beyond personal connection—Diller has been instrumental in supporting DVF's business ventures, and together they've become a powerful force in both fashion and philanthropy.

Her business experienced both tremendous success and significant setbacks. After initial acclaim in the 1970s, DVF faced financial challenges in the 1980s. However, she orchestrated a remarkable comeback in the 1990s, reintroducing her wrap dress to a new generation.

Beyond fashion, von Furstenberg serves as a champion for women's empowerment, establishing the DVF Awards recognizing extraordinary women leaders. Her leadership extends to cultural institutions as well, having served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America for over a decade.

Early Life

Diane Simone Michele Halfin was born on December 31, 1946, in Brussels, Belgium. Both her parents were Jewish, her father having moved to Belgium from the Republic of Moldova and her mother from Greece. Her mother had been a prisoner at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland during the Holocaust, and von Fürstenberg was born only 18 months after her mother's release.

Von Fürstenburg had an international upbringing, attending boarding school in Oxfordshire in England and later university in both Madrid and Geneva. It was during her early years in university that she met Prince Egon von Fürstenburg, whom she married at the age of 18 in 1969.

While she had been designing clothing throughout university, she first got involved in the fashion industry when she moved to Paris to work as an assistant to a fashion photographer's agent, but had a more hands-on experience upon moving to Italy. There, she worked as an apprentice to Angelo Ferretti, a textile manufacturer. She began to develop an understanding of fabrics and cut and created her first dresses, a precursor to the ones she would later make famous.

Career

After her experience in Italy, von Fürstenburg moved to New York, where her career took off. In 1974, she revealed the knitted jersey wrap dress under her self-titled brand, which quickly became a massive success in women's fashion. She was soon featured in Newsweek magazine, which described her as "the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel."

In the decades that followed, von Fürstenburg greatly expanded fashion lines and ventured into other markets as well. After moving to Paris in 1985, she began a French-language publishing house called Salvy. She also began a cosmetic line, launched performs, has been featured on QVC, and started a fine jewelry collection. She also published three books describing her life, ascent in the fashion industry, and philosophy on women's beauty. Her clothes have been worn by a wide variety of celebrities and prominent social figures, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Priyanka Chopra, and Michelle Obama.

Her work was the centerpiece of an exhibition curated by Andre Leon Talley entitled "Diane von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress." The exhibition, which was first featured in Moscow, Russia, in 2009, received a substantial amount of media attention. The exhibition then traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, in 2010 and to Beijing, China, in 2011.

Von Furstenberg has more recently collaborated with GapKids in 2011, which involved the launch of her first collection of designs for children. She also designed the shirts for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016. In 2019, Fürstenberg started a podcast, #InCharge, that is focused on empowering women. The podcast has featured a number of notable guests, including Kris Jenner and Karlie Kloss.

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Personal Life

Von Fürstenberg's marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg in 1969 was not enthusiastically supported by the groom's family, as they were Roman Catholic and she was Jewish. However, the marriage was considered dynastic: Prince Egon's mother was the heiress to the Fiat automotive fortune, and his father was a German Roman Catholic priest. They had two children together, Alexander and Tatiana, before separating in 1972 and divorcing in 1983. Diane retained the Fürstenberg name, which had become central to her brand identity.

In 2001, Diane married media mogul Barry Diller, her longtime friend and partner. The two first met in 1974 and shared a decades-long relationship marked by periods of romance, friendship, and separation before reuniting and marrying at City Hall in New York. In 2025, Diller publicly acknowledged that he is gay in his memoir "Who Knew," writing candidly about his sexuality and the complexity of living a private life in the public eye. Diane responded to the announcement with grace and support, describing their relationship as one rooted in love, trust, and honesty. "To me, he opened 50 years ago," she said. Despite the unconventional nature of their union, the two remain deeply committed companions and partners in life, philanthropy, and legacy.

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Philanthropy

Diane von Fürstenberg has long paired her success in fashion with an unwavering commitment to philanthropy and women's empowerment. In 2010, she launched the DVF Awards in partnership with Vital Voices, recognizing women who demonstrate courage, leadership, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. She also serves on the board of Vital Voices, furthering its mission to elevate women in leadership roles around the world.

Her dedication to mentorship and representation extends to her work with the Ban Bossy campaign, which promotes leadership development in young girls. In 2006, she was elected president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a position she held for over a decade, using her platform to advocate for innovation and inclusion in the fashion industry.

Alongside her husband Barry Diller, she co-founded the Diller–von Fürstenberg Family Foundation, which supports nonprofits in the areas of arts, education, human rights, and public space development. The foundation has made transformative contributions to projects such as the High Line and Little Island in New York City, with gifts totaling more than $130 million.

In recognition of her impact, von Fürstenberg received a star on Seventh Avenue's Fashion Walk of Fame in 2009 and a gold medal at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Gala in 2010. In 2020, she was named a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, France's highest order of merit, for her contributions to fashion, philanthropy, and women's leadership.

Real Estate

Barry Diller and Diane von Fürstenberg have curated an impressive portfolio of real estate holdings across the United States and Europe, reflecting their personal tastes and lifestyles.

Beverly Hills, California:

In February 2020, the couple purchased a 2,711-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Beverly Hills for $4.3 million. This property is adjacent to their longtime residence, which sits on nearly three acres of land. The addition expanded their estate in the exclusive Coldwater Canyon area.

Miami Beach, Florida:

In April 2024, Diller made headlines with the acquisition of a prime waterfront property on North Bay Road in Miami Beach for $45 million. The 1.5-acre estate, formerly the site of the Whitehall Mansion, adds a luxurious tropical retreat to their collection.

New York City:

Diane von Fürstenberg's primary residence in Manhattan is a distinctive glass-and-steel penthouse atop her company's headquarters in the Meatpacking District. Designed by the architectural firm WORKac, the "tree house" features a light-filled concrete staircase adorned with Swarovski crystals and offers panoramic views of the city.

Connecticut:

The couple also owns "Cloudwalk," a 19th-century estate situated on 100 acres in New Milford, Connecticut. This property serves as a serene country retreat away from their urban residences.

Paris, France:

Von Fürstenberg maintains an apartment on Paris's Left Bank, reflecting her European heritage and ongoing ties to the fashion capital.

Yacht:

Beyond their land-based properties, Diller owns the Eos, a 305-foot sailing yacht considered one of the largest private sailing vessels in the world. The yacht serves as a mobile residence, allowing the couple to travel in luxury across the globe.

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