RedCarpetLife
2436
In the world today
Sidney Kimmel

Sidney Kimmel

S. Kimmel
0% | + $0.00M
$1.58 B ₹ 14,372 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #2436 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Sidney Kimmel

Gender

Male

Age

98Y

Country

United States

Born On

January, 1928

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

0

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Fashion, Film)

Primary Organization

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment

Titles

Founder

Sources of Wealth

Jones Apparel Group (Sold)

Industry

Fashion & Retail, Entertainment, Philanthropy

About Sidney Kimmel


S idney Kimmel is an American fashion tycoon, film producer, and major philanthropist. The son of a taxi driver, Kimmel grew up in Philadelphia and dropped out of college before finding his calling in the apparel industry. In 1970, he founded his own company, Jones Apparel Group, with a partner. He eventually bought out his partner and took the company public in 1991.

Under Kimmel's leadership as chairman and CEO, Jones Apparel Group grew into a fashion powerhouse, acquiring numerous well-known brands such as Nine West, Anne Klein, and Gloria Vanderbilt. He built the company into a multi-billion dollar enterprise before retiring in 2002 and selling his remaining stake. After his fashion career, Kimmel embarked on a second act as a film producer, founding Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, which has produced dozens of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. He is also one of America's most generous philanthropists, having donated hundreds of millions of dollars, primarily to cancer research and the arts. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins are named in his honor.

Advertisement

Quick Reads


  • Founder of the fashion company Jones Apparel Group.
  • Built the company into a major powerhouse by acquiring brands like Nine West.
  • Became a film producer after retiring, founding Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.
  • A major philanthropist, particularly for cancer research, with over $1 billion in lifetime giving.
  • The son of a taxi driver from Philadelphia.

Early Life and Background


Sidney Kimmel is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and former Chairman of Jones Apparel Group (fashion retail) and a major film producer and philanthropist. His career is rooted in fashion retail, brand building, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Kimmel left Temple University after two years. His philosophical approach centers on scale, brand acquisition, and long-term commitment to affordable, mid-market fashion retail. He founded Jones Apparel Group in 1970, recognizing the immense, untapped domestic demand for affordable, quality women's apparel.

  • Jones Apparel Group (Former Founder & Chairman): The foundational source of his wealth, a major global manufacturer and retailer of fashion apparel and footwear (brands included Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Jones New York).
  • Film Production: He is the Founder and CEO of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE), a major film finance and production company.
  • Philanthropy Apex: He committed hundreds of millions of dollars to medical research and the arts (funding the Sidney Kimmel Medical College).
  • Early Struggles: He left college to start his career (reflecting his self-made status).

Career Journey of Sidney Kimmel


Sidney Kimmel's strategic genius was his commitment to brand acquisition and retail scale. He founded Jones Apparel Group in 1970, successfully building it into a national powerhouse by acquiring and revitalizing major fashion brands (e.g., Nine West and Gloria Vanderbilt). His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the scale consolidation and professionalization of the affordable fashion retail sector.

The company successfully executed its IPO on the NYSE. He later focused on film production (SKE) and high-impact philanthropy. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global retail and fashion sectors.

Advertisement

Sidney Kimmel's Timeline


1970:

Founds Jones Apparel Group (Founding 1).

1990s:

Jones Apparel executes its successful IPO on the NYSE (Financial Milestone).

2000:

Founds Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE) (Founding 2).

2000s:

Makes massive philanthropic commitments to medical institutions (Philanthropic Apex).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Patriarch, managing his private investments (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Sidney Kimmel's wealth is concentrated in his retained equity from the sale of Jones Apparel Group assets and his private entertainment firm, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE).

  • Jones Apparel Group (Former Founder & Chairman): The foundational source of his wealth, a major global manufacturer and retailer of fashion apparel and footwear.
  • Sidney Kimmel Entertainment (SKE) (Founder): The film finance and production company he founded.
  • Academic Note: He left Temple University after two years.
  • Philanthropy Apex: He committed hundreds of millions of dollars to medical research and the arts (funding the Sidney Kimmel Medical College).

Advertisement

Philanthropy and Social Impact


Sidney Kimmel's social impact stems from Jones Apparel Group's role as a massive global employer and provider of affordable fashion apparel. His profound philanthropic commitment is to medical research and education. The Sidney Kimmel Foundation has provided funding to numerous institutions, including the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, significantly advancing medical training and research.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Sidney Kimmel maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global retail sector.

Residing in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to investment strategy, film production, and philanthropy.

Advertisement

Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Founder of Jones Apparel Group (Nine West, Jones New York).
  • He is a major film producer (Sidney Kimmel Entertainment).
  • He committed hundreds of millions of dollars to medical research and education (funding the Sidney Kimmel Medical College).
  • He left Temple University after two years.
  • His fortune is tied to the successful monetization and scale of the U.S. fashion retail sector.
  • His philosophy emphasizes brand acquisition and strategic monetization.

Advertisement

More Profiles


Petter Stordalen & family

+0.95% | +$19.99M

Sofia Högberg Schörling

+0.26% | +$14.53M

You May Like


Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

Sponsored Content