James Jebbia Net Worth

Overview

James Jebbia is a British-American businessman and fashion designer, best known as the founder of the skateboarding shop and clothing brand Supreme. Born on July 22, 1963, in New York City, he moved to England as a child and later returned to the United States at the age of 19. Before establishing Supreme in 1994, Jebbia worked in retail, including at a skate shop called Parachute and later managing Union NYC. He also worked with Shawn Stussy of Stüssy. Supreme gained prominence for its unique blend of skateboarding culture, fashion, and art, collaborating with various high-profile artists and brands. In 2020, VF Corporation acquired Supreme for $2.1 billion. Jebbia continues to manage the business after the acquisition. Supreme is known for its limited-edition releases and strong brand identity within streetwear.

Supreme

Founder

What Is James Jebbia Net Worth?

James Jebbia, the businessman and fashion designer renowned for establishing the skateboarding lifestyle and clothing brand Supreme in New York City, possesses a net worth of $800 million. This valuation reflects his accomplishments in the fashion industry and his entrepreneurial success in building a globally recognized brand.

Early Career and the Genesis of Supreme

Born on July 22, 1963, in New York City, James Jebbia’s early life involved a move to Crawley, West Sussex, England, due to his parents’ separation when he was 10. In 1983, he returned to the United States and settled in Staten Island. Jebbia’s initial foray into the fashion world began with a job at Parachute, a minimalist skate shop and clothing store in New York. Later, he established Union NYC in 1989, a streetwear store on Spring Street in Manhattan that specialized in English clothing brands, before its relocation to Los Angeles. From 1991 to 1994, he collaborated with Shawn Stussy, the founder of Stüssy. The groundwork laid during these early career stages prepared him for his most significant venture: Supreme.

In the spring of 1994, Jebbia founded Supreme. The first store, located in Lower Manhattan, was deliberately designed to appeal to the skateboarding and hip-hop scenes, representing a move into streetwear culture. Early employees included extras from Larry Clark’s film “Kids.” This initial store was followed by a second location on Fairfax in Los Angeles, California, in 2004, doubling the size of the original New York City space. Supreme then expanded internationally, opening stores in Paris, London, Milan, and multiple locations in Japan, including Tokyo and Nagoya. In the United States, Supreme has also established stores in San Francisco and Chicago. These strategic expansions underscore the brand’s growing influence and appeal.

Supreme’s inventory not only includes its own clothing line but also features other skateboard brands such as Nike SB, Thrasher, and Vans. The brand is known for its collaborative partnerships with other major labels, including Louis Vuitton, Emilio Pucci, Champion, Timberland, Lacoste, and True Religion. It has also collaborated with artists like Takashi Murakami, Jeff Koons, Mark Flood, John Baldessari, and Damien Hirst. The designs of Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto have also appeared on the brand. These collaborations have boosted Supreme’s profile and appeal in the fashion world.

Strategic Investments and Acquisition

In 2017, James Jebbia confirmed that roughly 50% of Supreme had been sold to the private equity firm the Carlyle Group, valuing the brand at $1 billion. This transaction marked a milestone in Supreme’s growth, signifying the brand’s value in the eyes of institutional investors. Just a few years later, in November 2020, VF Corporation acquired Supreme in an all-cash deal for around $2.1 billion, further validating Jebbia’s work in building Supreme into a globally recognized brand. Following the acquisition, Jebbia has continued to manage the business.