The LGBTQ+ Billionaire List 2025: Who Has the Highest Net Worth Today?

For much of modern business history, the wealthiest circles were marked by discretion, particularly when it came to personal identity. Only in the last two decades have media outlets and financial analysts begun documenting openly LGBTQ+ billionaires who command vast fortunes across industries. In today’s billionaire-dominated world, the richest LGBTQ+ people are not only emblematic of personal success but also of how visibility, resilience, and innovation intersect in global capitalism.

As of 2025, each individual on this list holds a net worth above $2 billion, with fortunes stretching from the $2.5 billion threshold to nearly $24 billion. Their wealth spans sectors from Silicon Valley and Wall Street to Milan’s fashion ateliers and Hollywood’s entertainment giants.

1. Peter Thiel — $23.8 Billion
   Industry: Technology & Venture Capital
   Notable Roles: Cofounder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies; early Facebook investor
   Peter Thiel, often described as one of Silicon Valley’s most enigmatic figures, sits atop the list as the world’s richest out gay billionaire. With an estimated net worth of $23.8 billion, Thiel built his fortune through PayPal, which he co-founded with Elon Musk and Max Levchin, and through early investments in Facebook.
   Thiel’s venture capital firm, Founders Fund, has backed some of the most transformative tech companies of the 21st century. His influence extends beyond finance; he has long positioned himself as both a contrarian thinker and a power broker in global politics and technology. For CEOs and investors, Thiel’s story demonstrates the outsized rewards of combining risk tolerance with strategic foresight in emerging markets.
2. Giorgio Armani — $12.1 Billion
   Industry: Fashion & Luxury Goods
   Notable Roles: Founder of Giorgio Armani S.p.A.
   The late Giorgio Armani, who passed away in 2025 at age 91, remains an icon in both fashion and wealth rankings. At the time of his death, Armani was worth approximately $12.1 billion. His luxury empire redefined menswear and women’s fashion, shaping an aesthetic of understated elegance that extended into fragrances, hotels, and interior design.
   Armani’s fortune highlights the enduring value of brand equity. Even after decades in business, his company continues to resonate with both aspirational consumers and ultra-wealthy clients worldwide. For leaders in consumer markets, Armani is a case study in how timeless brand positioning creates multi-generational wealth.
3. David Geffen — $8.9 Billion
   Industry: Entertainment & Media
   Notable Roles: Cofounder of DreamWorks; founder of Geffen Records
   David Geffen, with a fortune of $8.9 billion, is among the most powerful figures in entertainment. His career spans founding record labels (Asylum Records, Geffen Records) and later co-founding DreamWorks alongside Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
   Beyond media, Geffen has made headlines for his personal life, including his marriage and subsequent divorce from David Armstrong (stage name Donovan Michaels). Geffen’s wealth reflects the synergy between cultural influence and financial acumen, proving that intellectual property and creative assets can rival manufacturing or technology as engines of billionaire wealth.
4. Jon Stryker — $5.7 Billion
   Industry: Medical Technology & Philanthropy
   Notable Roles: Heir to Stryker Corporation; philanthropist, architect, and conservationist
   Jon Stryker, heir to the Stryker Corporation medical equipment fortune, holds an estimated net worth of $5.7 billion. The company is a global leader in surgical equipment and medical technology.
   While wealth runs in the family—Ronda Stryker is worth $8.6 billion and Pat Stryker $4.1 billion—Jon Stryker distinguishes himself through philanthropy. His Arcus Foundation is one of the world’s leading funders of LGBTQ+ rights and wildlife conservation. For executives, Stryker exemplifies how legacy wealth can be leveraged to drive social impact, offering lessons in balancing family business stewardship with independent vision.
5. Barry Diller — $5 Billion
   Industry: Media & Technology
   Notable Roles: Chairman of IAC Inc.; former CEO of Paramount Pictures & Fox
   Barry Diller, with a net worth of $5 billion, is a self-made titan of the media and internet age. As chairman of IAC, he oversees a portfolio of digital brands that have disrupted traditional publishing and entertainment models.
   In his 2025 memoir Who Knew, Diller openly discussed his sexuality at length for the first time, reflecting on both personal challenges and shifting societal acceptance. His story underscores the evolving conversation around identity in the C-suite, where authenticity is increasingly seen as a strength rather than a liability.
6. Stein Erik Hagen — $2.7 Billion
   Industry: Consumer Goods & Retail
   Notable Roles: Founder of RIMI; major shareholder in Orkla ASA
   Norwegian billionaire Stein Erik Hagen commands a fortune of $2.7 billion. Hagen built his wealth by co-founding RIMI, a discount supermarket chain, later selling it and consolidating his holdings into Orkla ASA, a European consumer goods powerhouse.
   Hagen publicly came out as bisexual in 2015, bringing visibility to LGBTQ+ leadership in Nordic business. His trajectory illustrates how regional champions can scale into multinational powerhouses through consolidation and strategic exits.
7. Jennifer Pritzker — $2.5 Billion
   Industry: Diversified Investments & Real Estate
   Notable Roles: Investor; heir to the Pritzker family fortune
   Jennifer Pritzker, with a net worth of $2.5 billion, became the world’s first openly transgender billionaire in 2013. A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, she is part of the influential Pritzker dynasty, known for founding Hyatt Hotels and other diversified enterprises.
   Pritzker’s visibility has been groundbreaking. As businesses embrace diversity at the leadership level, her prominence underscores the broader role of representation in capital markets. For policymakers, her story reflects how inclusive economies are built when barriers to visibility and acceptance are lowered.
8. Tim Cook — $2.5 Billion
   Industry: Technology
   Notable Roles: CEO of Apple Inc.
   Apple CEO Tim Cook is perhaps the most recognizable figure on this list, with a fortune of $2.5 billion. As the successor to Steve Jobs, Cook has led Apple into a new era of growth, overseeing product launches that cemented Apple as the world’s most valuable company.
   Since publicly coming out in 2014, Cook has become a global symbol of authentic leadership. His visibility at the helm of Apple illustrates the importance of inclusion in executive roles at the world’s largest corporations. For CEOs, his journey is a reminder that transparency can be a competitive advantage in both talent attraction and brand equity.
9. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana — $2.5 Billion Each
   Industry: Fashion & Luxury Goods
   Notable Roles: Cofounders of Dolce & Gabbana
   Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, founders of the fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, each hold fortunes of $2.5 billion. Despite ending their romantic partnership in 2004, the pair have continued to run their brand together, steering it to global recognition.
   Their company remains synonymous with Italian luxury, blending bold aesthetics with commercial savvy. For investors, Dolce and Gabbana showcase how co-founder partnerships can endure beyond personal dynamics when united by shared vision and disciplined execution.

Executive Takeaways

The top 10 richest LGBTQ+ people in 2025 are more than figures on a balance sheet; they embody shifts in visibility, leadership, and wealth creation. Their fortunes highlight several key insights for global business leaders:

• Diversification fuels resilience. From tech to fashion to real estate, billionaires in this group prove that wealth creation is sector-agnostic when built on innovation and branding.
• Authenticity matters. Leaders like Tim Cook and Barry Diller illustrate how openness can strengthen credibility with employees, investors, and consumers.
• Philanthropy is power. Jon Stryker and Jennifer Pritzker show that wealth can be wielded to transform social norms and expand equality.
• Global reach is essential. From Norway to Silicon Valley, these fortunes underscore the borderless nature of capital and influence.

For CEOs, investors, and policymakers, the wealth of LGBTQ+ billionaires reflects a new paradigm: leadership defined not only by balance sheets but also by identity, visibility, and purpose.

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