In 1968, Lauren launched a full menswear line, inspired by his love of sport. By the 1970s, he'd branched out into creating womenswear. His signature preppy designs caught the attention of Hollywood, and in 1974 he outfitted the male cast of The Great Gatsby movie with designs from his now world-famous Polo line. He custom-designed an infamous pink suit especially for the character of Jay Gatsby.

Lauren has a current net worth of $10.9 billion (£8.9bn) and is famed for his philanthropic work, having used his fortune to set up numerous charitable foundations.