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Who owns the Tom Ford brand?

The short answer

The Estée Lauder Companies. It completed its purchase of the Tom Ford brand on 28 April 2023 and says it is now the sole owner of the brand and all its intellectual property. It licenses the name to Zegna Group for fashion and accessories and to Marcolin Group for eyewear.

By the Fragnatique team2 min read6 sourcesUpdated

A black Tom Ford bottle on a thread beside the words Tom Ford Beauty launched by Estée Lauder.Coming to @eaufacts

Key facts

  • 2005The Tom Ford brand launches with fragrance and eyewear, Estée Lauder's brand page says.
  • 2006Estée Lauder first introduces Tom Ford Beauty, starting with a luxury fragrance.
  • 15 November 2022Estée Lauder announces it will acquire the Tom Ford brand, in an SEC filing.
  • 28 April 2023Estée Lauder completes the deal and becomes sole owner of the brand.
  • $2.8 billionThe total enterprise value of the deal; Estée Lauder paid about $2.25 billion at closing.
  • December 2025VSP Vision completes its purchase of Marcolin, which still lists Tom Ford among its licensed brands.

Did Estée Lauder pay $2.8 billion for Tom Ford?

Not on its own. Estée Lauder says the deal valued the total enterprise at $2.8 billion. At closing it paid approximately $2.25 billion, and its release says the remainder of the valuation is reflected in Zegna Group's acquisition of the Tom Ford fashion business. The headline figure covers the whole brand, not one payment from one buyer.

Who makes Tom Ford clothes and glasses?

Licensees. Zegna Group says it has become a long-term licensee of Estée Lauder for all Tom Ford men's and women's fashion, plus accessories, fine jewelry, childrenswear and home design, and that it runs the business end to end, from collection creation to production. Marcolin, one of the leading global eyewear manufacturers, holds what its chief executive called an exclusive and perpetual license for the brand.

When did Tom Ford perfume start?

Long before the sale. Estée Lauder's 2022 SEC filing says Tom Ford Beauty was first introduced by the company in 2006, was established with an initial luxury fragrance, and grew into a collection of fragrance, makeup and skin care strongly positioned in luxury fragrance. Its brand page dates the Tom Ford brand itself to 2005, when it launched with fragrance and eyewear. Estée Lauder made the perfume long before it owned the name.

Is that still true in 2026?

Yes. Estée Lauder's brand page still says it is the sole owner of the Tom Ford brand. Zegna's first half 2026 results, filed with the SEC, report €156.8 million of Tom Ford Fashion revenue. Marcolin itself was bought by VSP Vision in December 2025, but VSP says Marcolin will continue to operate as it does today, with Tom Ford among its licensed brands.

The full storyWho Owns Tom Ford? The Estée Lauder Deal Explained8 min read in the Fragnatique Journal

Sources

Primary sources only. Every statement on this page restates one of them, read by the Fragnatique team.

  1. The Estée Lauder Companies, Tom Ford brand page (2026)elcompanies.com
  2. The Estée Lauder Companies, Completes Acquisition of the Tom Ford Brand (28 April 2023)elcompanies.com
  3. SEC, Estée Lauder 8-K Exhibit 99.1 (15 November 2022)sec.gov
  4. SEC, Zegna 6-K Exhibit 99.1 (28 April 2023)sec.gov
  5. SEC, Zegna first half 2026 results (3 September 2026)sec.gov
  6. VSP Vision and Marcolin, VSP Vision completes Marcolin acquisition (23 December 2025)marcolin.com

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