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What Was Vidal Sassoon’s Net Worth?
Vidal Sassoon, a celebrated British hairstylist, entrepreneur, and author, had a substantial net worth of $200 million at the time of his death in 2012. This considerable wealth reflected his successful career, beginning from humble origins to becoming a global icon in the beauty industry. While specific breakdowns of his net worth components, such as real estate holdings, brand sales, and investments, are not publicly detailed, the vast fortune amassed by Vidal Sassoon is an indication of the strength of his brand and his significant impact on the world of hairstyling.
Vidal Sassoon’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Vidal Sassoon was born on January 17, 1928, in Hammersmith, London, England. His early life was marked by considerable hardship. When he was three years old, his father, Jack, abandoned the family, leaving his mother, Betty, to care for Vidal and his younger brother, Ivor. Betty, of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, placed Vidal and Ivor in a Jewish orphanage due to financial difficulties, where they stayed for seven years.
Sassoon attended Essendine Road Primary School, where he faced bullying for being Jewish. His initial career aspirations leaned towards football, but his mother steered him towards hairdressing. He then became an apprentice to hairdresser Adolph Cohen. When Vidal was 17, he joined the Jewish veterans’ organization the 43 Group. In 1948, Vidal joined the Palmach, which later became part of the Israel Defense Forces, and he fought in the Arab–Israeli War.
After training with Raymond Bessone in Mayfair, Sassoon opened his own salon in London in 1954.
Professional Career and Brand Expansion
Vidal Sassoon’s career was defined by innovation and a departure from the elaborate, high-maintenance hairstyles that were popular before his emergence. He opened his first salon in the U.S. on Madison Avenue in New York City in 1965. His modern, geometric cuts and the emphasis on easy-to-manage hair revolutionized the industry. Vidal Sassoon opened his first salon in London in 1954.
In 1968, Vidal created Mia Farrow’s pixie cut for the film “Rosemary’s Baby.” The hairstylist launched his line of hair care products in 1973, with the tagline “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.” The Vidal Sassoon brand quickly gained international recognition, expanding into a chain of salons and a comprehensive range of hair care products. By the early 1980s, sales of Vidal Sassoon hair care products had exceeded $110 million.
The company changed hands several times, with Richardson-Vicks buying Vidal Sassoon Inc. and Vidal’s Santa Monica hairdressing school in 1983. Subsequently, Procter & Gamble purchased the company, and Sassoon served as a consultant through the mid-1990s. However, in 2003, Sassoon sued Procter & Gamble for fraud and breach of contract, alleging that the company had neglected to adequately market his products.
Real Estate and Personal Life
In 2004, Vidal and his wife, Ronnie, purchased the Singleton House in Bel-Air for $4 million. This Richard Neutra-designed mansion, featuring four bedrooms and five bathrooms, is set on over five acres of land. The property was initially listed for $19.955 million in 2007 but did not sell at that price. After Vidal’s death, the home was relisted for $17.995 million and eventually sold for $16.5 million in 2013 to Francoise Pinault.
The couple also owned two homes in Cincinnati’s Mt. Adams neighborhood. They sold one for $900,000 in 2007. They paid $1.2 million for their other home in 2006. That home went on the market for $1.25 million in 2017.
Vidal Sassoon’s personal life included multiple marriages. He was married to Elaine Wood from 1956 to 1958, followed by actress Beverly Adams, whom he married in 1967. With Adams, he had three biological children – Eden Sassoon, Elan, and Catya – and one adopted child, David. This marriage ended in divorce in January 1981. Tragically, Catya died of a heart attack due to drug use in 2002, and Vidal later became estranged from David and disinherited him. His third marriage was to Jeanette Hartford-Davis in 1983, which ended shortly after the wedding. In 1992, he married designer Rhonda Holbrook (Ronnie), and they remained married until his death in May 2012.
Philanthropic Efforts and Later Years
Beyond his commercial success, Vidal Sassoon was deeply committed to philanthropy. He established the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1982. His commitment stemmed from his experiences with anti-Semitism. He also supported the Performing Arts Council of the Music Center of Los Angeles and the Boys Clubs of America.
Diagnosed with leukemia in 2009, Vidal Sassoon passed away on May 9, 2012, at his home in Bel Air at the age of 84. His legacy extends beyond his financial achievements, encompassing his revolutionary impact on hairstyling and his dedication to charitable causes.
