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10 of the richest LGBT people in the world, from Apple CEO Tim Cook and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel to fashion designer Michael Kors and music legend Elton John

Tim Cook, Ellen DeGeneres and Elton John are three of the richest members of the LGBTQ+ community in the world. Photos: @timcook_ing/Instagram, USA Today Sports, AP
While the elite ranks of billionaires and millionaires lacks much diversity, some members of the LGBTQ+ community have managed to break into the world’s most wealthy – earning net worths that near or exceed 10 figures by inheriting empires, building companies or creating brands.

Here are 10 of the richest LGBTQ+ people in the world.

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David Geffen

David Geffen, philanthropist and entertainment mogul, received the UCLA Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the university, during the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLAs Hippocratic Oath Ceremony on May 30, 2014 at Westwood, California. Photo: Getty Images for UCLA/AFP

The co-founder of DreamWorks is worth US$9.9 billion, according to Forbes.

Starting as a Hollywood talent agent, David Geffen made the foundation of his fortune when he created record labels Asylum Records, Geffen Records and DGC Records. In 1994, he created the DreamWorks film studio with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Geffen also has a large real estate portfolio and a US$2 billion art collection.

In 2007, Out magazine called Geffen the most powerful gay man in the US.

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani. Photo: Getty Images
The fashion designer’s fortune is about US$8.9 billion.

Giorgio Armani began his career in the military after leaving medical school. In the 70s, he started designing menswear, but his career really took off when he started designing for Richard Gere in 1980. Since then, Armani’s brand has expanded into an empire, which includes accessories, interior design and hotels.

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Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel speaks at The New York Times DealBook conference on November 1, 2018 in New York City. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

The PayPal co-founder is worth US$5.2 billion.

In 1999, Peter Thiel co-founded the website, which was meant to be a simple way to exchange money via devices. He was CEO of the company up until eBay acquired PayPal, and his stake in the company was said to be worth US$55 million. Thiel was also an early investor of Facebook, and he founded a data analytics company, Palantir, which is valued at US$20 billion, according to Forbes.

He now lives with his husband, Matt Danzeisen, in Los Angeles.

Jon Stryker

Jon Stryker. Photo: Getty Images

The heir to a medical equipment company, Forbes reports Jon Stryker’s net worth to be US$4.4 billion.

Stryker’s grandfather founded Stryker Corporation, which is a medical supply company that sold US$14.9 billion in equipment in 2019, according to Forbes. One of the heirs to the family fortune, Stryker is a philanthropist who donates large sums of his money to charities and scholarships. So far, he has given away US$585 million.

Stryker also founded the Arcus Foundation, which fights for LGBTQ+ rights and ape conservation.

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Domenico Dolce

Italian designer Domenico Dolce working on the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda at Pretoria Square in Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy in June 2017. Photo: Handout

Fashion designer Domenico Dolce is worth US$2 billion.

After meeting in a club, Dolce and Stefano Gabbana started a fashion brand together in 1985. The company’s signature animal print made waves at fashion events and even caught the attention of Madonna, solidifying Dolce & Gabbana’s place in fashion history.

Jennifer Pritzker

Jennifer Pritzker. Photo: Getty Images

Jennifer Pritzker, a hotel heiress, is the only openly transgender billionaire in the world.

A former lieutenant in the Army, Pritzker inherited part of the Hyatt hotel fortune, giving her a net worth of US$1.9 billion.

She came out as transgender in 2013 without much fanfare, but she made headlines in 2017 when former US president Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender people serving in the military. Before this, Pritzker supported Trump and donated large sums to his campaign, but the ban prompted her to support Biden in his bid for the presidency instead.

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Tim Cook

13 October 2020, US, Cupertino: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the Apple Event for the unveiling of Apple's iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: PA/DPA
Many millionaires and billionaires got richer in 2020; it was also the year Apple CEO Tim Cook officially became a billionaire.

Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011 after the death of its founder, Steve Jobs. A decade later, the company is nearing a market value of nearly US$2 trillion, making Cook a billionaire. Despite his billionaire status, he lives in a relatively cheap home in Palo Alto. He came out as gay in 2014.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors. Photo: Getty Images

Fashion designer Michael Kors used to be worth US$1 billion, but today, his fortune is estimated to be US$600 million.

Kors began his fashion design company in his mother’s basement in the 80s and turned it into an empire. In 2011, he took the company public when it was valued at US$3.5 billion. In 2004, he became a superstar when he became a judge on Project Runway. A decade later, Kors became a billionaire.

Today, he calls downtown New York City home with his husband, Lance LePere.

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Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres arrives at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California in 2015. Photo: AP

Ellen DeGeneres’ net worth is estimated at US$370 million, according to Forbes.

DeGeneres began her career as a stand-up comedian who eventually landed a successful sitcom titled Ellen in the late 90s. During that time, she came out as a lesbian and was blacklisted from Hollywood. In 2003, she made her return as a daytime talk show host – hers is still one of the most popular talk shows today.

She’s married to Portia de Rossi and they live in Los Angeles.

Elton John

Elton John performs during the Oscars show at the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Elton John has been in the music industry for decades, earning a fortune near US$500 million.

John began his music career in Britain and became known for his flamboyant and outrageous costumes. Quickly, he became a cultural phenomenon, launching his decade-spanning career. He still tours today and has sold over 300 million records, according to The Times.

John has been with his partner, David Furnish, for nearly three decades.

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This article originally appeared on Business Insider

LGBTQ
  • Jennifer Pritzker, the only transgender billionaire in the world, used to be a Donald Trump donor – but later supported Joe Biden
  • Giorgio Armani attained success by designing for Richard Gere, while Dolce & Gabbana’s Domenico Dolce was noticed by Madonna