Estée Lauder has declared themselves the new owners of Tom Ford, and they're not just making a statement—they're making a statement on a global scale.

As if anyone needed further proof that Tom Ford is a veritable Midas man, it was announced that Estée Lauder is in contract to buy the designer’s namesake brand for a staggering $2.8 billion dollars. It’s an investment, noted the cosmetics giant, in the expanding “luxury beauty” category.

Tom Ford Beauty

The deal will give Estée Lauder access to Tom Ford's global distribution network and retail space, but also his proprietary branding, allowing them to expand into fragrances, makeup, skincare products, and more.

The Gucci years were a turning point for Ford, and his career was launched into the stratosphere. His clothes were sexy and glamorous, with a healthy dose of rock and roll thrown in as an homage to his own tastes. He had found his groove.

Ford has continued to evolve over the years, but he’s never lost sight of what made him a star in the first place: his ability to marry high-octane glamour with raw sexuality. At the time, this combination charted a route away from shoegazing waifs and toward something much bolder and more visceral—an invitation to look hot and celebrate or manifest good times.

When Tom Ford launched his eponymous line in 2006, he was a force to be reckoned with. He'd spent years working at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, and had just left both companies on account of contract negotiations gone sour. With his business partner Domenico De Sole, Ford launched the Tom Ford brand with a bang: they started with accessories and beauty products, then expanded into fashion, where they found their niche in creating sizzle for the digital age with captivating designs that were both classic and modern at once. His pieces are known for their elegance and sophistication—and their ability to make women feel like movie stars when they wear them!

According to analysts, the bulk of Tom Ford’s sales come from its beauty, fragrance and eyewear licensing agreements. Announcing the acquisition today, Estée Lauder said Tom Brand Beauty has “delivered impressive success”, including growing strong double-digit net sales from fiscal years 2012 through 2022. In Estée Lauder Companies’ fiscal year ended 30 June 2022, Tom Ford Beauty achieved nearly 25 per cent net sales growth year on year. “Over the next couple of years, we expect that the brand will achieve annual net sales of $1 billion,” the company said.

“We are incredibly proud of the success Tom Ford Beauty has achieved in luxury fragrance and makeup and its dedication to creating desirable, high-quality products for discerning consumers around the world,” said Fabrizio Freda, president and chief executive officer of The Estée Lauder Companies.

“As an owned brand, this strategic acquisition will unlock new opportunities and fortify our growth plans for Tom Ford Beauty. It will also further help to propel our momentum in the promising category of luxury beauty for the long term, while reaffirming our commitment to being the leading pure player in global prestige beauty.”

Bravo, Tom Ford. Bravo!

We've been a fan of your brand and its commitment to luxury since the beginning, and we wish you all the best in your next venture. You've created a brand that the world wants to be a part of—you're not just creating luxury; you're creating something aspirational. We can't wait to see what this fashion force does next.