Items20The creator’s order
  1. 1Pierre CardinPierre CardinCardin extended a couture name far beyond the fashion house through licences covering clothing, accessories and household products. Other businesses could manufacture and distribute goods bearing his brand, while the name itself generated income. His unusually broad expansion makes him a useful…0i
  2. 2Calvin KleinCalvin KleinCalvin Klein and Barry Schwartz built a fashion business whose licensing operation was valuable enough to feature centrally in PVH's 2003 acquisition. Klein's sale included payments linked to worldwide sales for a defined period. That structure connected future brand growth to the founder's…0i
  3. 3Ralph LaurenRalph LaurenBorn 14 Oct 1939Lauren combined directly operated fashion businesses with licences for categories such as fragrances and home products. Specialist partners could extend the lifestyle associated with his name into products the company did not need to manufacture itself. His substantial founder ownership links that…0i
  4. 4Tommy HilfigerTommy HilfigerHilfiger's brand expanded through both its own operations and product or regional licensing partnerships. Those relationships helped turn a designer's name into an internationally saleable business. The company's later changes of ownership, including PVH's 2010 purchase from funds advised by Apax,…0i
  5. 5Martha StewartMartha StewartStewart turned an editorial identity associated with homes, food and entertaining into retailer product ranges, including the Kmart partnership. Her company earned licensing revenue while outside partners handled much of the manufacture and selling. Her financial interest ran substantially through…0i
  6. 6George LucasGeorge LucasLucas retained an unusually valuable position in the business built around Star Wars, including its merchandising operation. When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, Lucas was its sole owner and the announced transaction valued the company at about $4.05 billion in cash and shares. Licensing was part…0i
  7. 7Walt DisneyWalt DisneyBorn 5 Dec 1901Disney's characters could earn money away from the cinema through licensed merchandise. The 1932 appointment of Kay Kamen helped organise that opportunity into a substantial business alongside film production. Walt's wealth was linked to ownership in the growing company, so the useful connection…0i
  8. 8Charles M. SchulzCharles M. SchulzBorn 26 Nov 1922Schulz's Peanuts characters generated income through merchandise and other licensed uses as well as newspaper publication. His financial participation included royalties, while rights ownership also involved the syndication business. The family's later acquisition of an equity interest in Peanuts…0i
  9. 9Jim Davis (cartoonist)Jim Davis (cartoonist)Born 28 Jul 1945Davis developed Garfield into a character-licensing business through Paws, taking the comic strip onto merchandise and other products. Viacom's 2019 acquisition of Garfield's rights from Paws illustrates how a creator-controlled property can become a saleable asset as well as a source of ongoing…0i
  10. 10Michael JordanMichael JordanBorn 17 Feb 1963Jordan's Nike relationship gave him royalties linked to a sportswear brand built around his name and sporting identity. That continuing participation became far more financially significant than his basketball salary. The revealing business distinction is between receiving a fee for an…0i