Gary Friedman is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Chairman and CEO of RH (Restoration Hardware, NYSE: RH), the luxury home furnishings retailer. Born in San Francisco, California, in 1957, his early life was marked by the loss of his father at age five, leading his mother to raise him in Sonoma, California.

His career began in retail: while attending community college, he started working part-time at The Gap in 1977. He quickly proved his talent, becoming the youngest manager, district manager, and regional manager in The Gap's history. This early success in the fast-paced retail sector provided him with a profound understanding of merchandising, store design, and customer experience—the foundation for his future luxury retail empire.

Gary Friedman's retail genius was fully realized at Williams-Sonoma Inc. (1988–2001), where he served as President and COO and successfully transformed the Pottery Barn brand, helping increase total sales from $300 million to $2.1 billion. In 2001, he joined Restoration Hardware (RH) as co-CEO (later becoming sole CEO and Chairman in 2011).

His tenure at RH is defined by a complete, multi-stage reinvention of the brand, pivoting it from a quaint novelty retailer to a global luxury design powerhouse. He implemented experiential retail concepts (e.g., massive Design Galleries) and specialized in high-end furnishings, moving the brand to the absolute pinnacle of luxury. His wealth, secured by his large equity stake in RH, is tied to the successful transformation of the brand's identity and its massive appreciation in the luxury consumer market. He briefly stepped down in 2012 over a personal relationship with a subordinate but was reappointed in 2013, continuing his highly influential leadership.

Gary Friedman's social impact is structural, stemming from RH's role in shaping interior design and luxury consumer aesthetics globally. His company provides thousands of stable retail and design jobs. His career provides an inspirational narrative of a high school graduate (attending community college) who rose from a part-time retail job to CEO of two major national retailers.

His personal philanthropy supports various arts, educational, and community initiatives, often focused on design and architecture.

Gary Friedman maintains the high-end, aesthetic style of a luxury brand CEO. His attire is consistently modern and high-quality, favoring tailored suits and simple, expensive casual wear. His aesthetic is one of confident, design-focused authority, reflecting his commitment to luxury retail excellence.

Residing in California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to brand reinvention and his singular focus on making RH the dominant global luxury home design brand.