Virgil Abloh

From Skateboarder to First Black Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton

creative business
Virgil Abloh

Net Worth

$100M

Born

September 30, 1980 (died age 41)

Country

United States

Occupation

Fashion Designer, Artist, Entrepreneur

Gender

male

Generation

Gen X

Marital Status

married

Children

2

Single Parent Household

No

Education

Master's

University

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Illinois Institute of Technology

Industries

creative, business

Wealth Category

multi-millionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Immigrant

Yes

Overcame

  • Son of Ghanaian immigrants; father worked at a sawmill
  • Entered fashion without formal training in design
  • Faced skepticism from traditional fashion establishment
  • Battled cardiac angiosarcoma privately for two years while continuing to work

Virgil Abloh was an American fashion designer, entrepreneur, and artist who served as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection from 2018 until his passing in 2021. He was also the founder of Off-White, a luxury streetwear brand that revolutionized fashion. He is widely credited with bridging the gap between streetwear and luxury fashion.

Career Timeline

1980

Born in Rockford, Illinois to Ghanaian immigrant parents

2002 Age 22
Achievement

Earned BS in Civil Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison

2006 Age 26
Achievement

Earned Master's in Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology

2009 Age 29
Turning Point

Became creative director for Kanye West and DONDA

2012 Age 32
Turning Point

Launched Pyrex Vision - first fashion venture

2013 Age 33
Milestone

Founded Off-White in Milan

2018 Age 38
Milestone

Named artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear

2019 Age 39
Achievement

First solo art exhibition 'Figures of Speech' at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

2021 Age 41

Passed away from cardiac angiosarcoma on November 28

Notable Quotes

"I don't make things for the sake of making things. I make things to start a conversation."

— Interview, 2018

"The worst thing you can do is not try."

— Interview, 2019

"I'm a collaborator. I'm not the guy who sits in a room alone."

— Interview, 2020

"Streetwear is the only movement in fashion that's happened outside of the fashion system."