Andre Leon Talley Net Worth

What was André Leon Talley's Net Worth?

André Leon Talley was an American fashion journalist, stylist, writer, and creative director who had a net worth of $200 thousand at the time of his death. Andre died on January 18, 2022, at the age of 73.

André Leon Talley worked at Vogue magazine from 1983 to 2013, first as its fashion news director, then as its creative director, and finally as its editor-at-large. Among his many other endeavors, he authored books, served as a stylist for the Obamas, and sat on the judging panel on the reality competition television series "America's Next Top Model."

Despite being one of the most famous people in the fashion industry, Andre experienced some financial problems later in life. In a 2018 New York Times profile, Andre revealed he was "broke", which raised some eyebrows. In February 2021, Andre was reportedly evicted from a home in New York after failing to pay $500,000 in rent.

Early Life and Education

André Leon Talley was born on October 16, 1948 in Washington, DC to Alma and William. He was raised by his maternal grandmother Bennie, who worked as a cleaning lady at Duke University in North Carolina. She was an enormous influence on him, nurturing his nascent love of fashion. As an adolescent, Talley attended Hillside High School, graduating in 1966. He subsequently went to North Carolina Central University, from which he earned his BA in French literature in 1970. On a scholarship, Talley went on to attend graduate school at Brown University, earning his MA in French literature in 1972.

Career Beginnings

In 1974, Talley worked as an unpaid apprentice for Vogue editor Diana Vreeland at the Met in New York City. Impressed by his work, Vreeland helped secure Talley a job at Interview magazine. After working there, he wrote for the fashion trade journal Women's Wear Daily and became its Paris bureau chief. From 1975 to 1980, Talley wrote for the fashion magazine W. He wrote for a number of other publications around this time, including Ebony and the New York Times.

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Vogue

In 1983, Talley joined Vogue as the magazine's fashion news director. He remained in that role until 1987, and then from 1988 to 1995 served as Vogue's creative director. Talley was the first-ever African-American man to serve as creative director of Vogue. Finally, from 1998 to 2013, he served as the magazine's editor-at-large. In both his work at Vogue and his outside activities, Talley was known for supporting burgeoning designers and promoting diversity in the fashion industry. He especially advocated for an increase in Black models on the runway. As his profile role, Talley established a signature look marked by capes, robes, and kaftans.

Styling and Mentorship

Talley styled and mentored many prominent figures during his career. He styled professional tennis player Serena Williams and introduced First Lady Michelle Obama to designer Jason Wu, who designed Obama's dress for the 2009 inauguration. Talley went on to work as a stylist for the Obamas in the White House. Elsewhere, he mentored such fashion figures as supermodel Naomi Campbell, photographer Dario Calmese, and designers LaQuan Smith and John Galliano, among others.

Books

In 1984, Talley co-wrote the book "MegaStar" with Richard Bernstein. It features portraits of celebrities. Talley's first book as a solo author was his autobiography "A.L.T.: A Memoir," which was published in 2003. Two years later, Talley published "A.L.T. 365+," an art monograph consisting of photos from a single year of his life. His final book, "The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir," was published in 2020. A New York Times Best Seller, it chronicles Talley's career in New York City in the 1970s, his fraught relationship with Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and his struggles with racism in the fashion industry.

Television and Film

Talley made various appearances on television and film. In 2008, he made a cameo appearance as himself in the big-screen continuation of "Sex and the City," and in 2009 he appeared in the documentary film "The September Issue," about Anna Wintour and Vogue. From 2010 to 2011, Talley served on the judging panel of the reality competition television show "America's Next Top Model." Talley had a cameo as himself on the Fox series "Empire" in 2015. The year after that, he was featured in the documentary film "The First Monday in May." Talley went on to serve as the subject of the 2017 documentary film "The Gospel According to André."

Personal Life and Death

A practicing Christian, Talley attended the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. He was openly queer, and stated that he was "fluid" in his sexuality.

On January 18, 2022, Talley passed away from complications of a heart attack at a hospital in Westchester County, New York.

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