While many gay kids grow up being told they’ll never amount to anything, this list of fabulously wealthy men proves the haters couldn’t be more wrong.
In a world where homophobes still try to hold us back, these gay and bisexual billionaires haven’t just succeeded – they’ve absolutely dominated their industries.
From tech to fashion to entertainment, these men have built empires worth billions while living their truths (or at least eventually getting around to it).
Let’s celebrate these financial heavyweights who’ve shown that being gay is no barrier to obscene wealth.
Whether they’re loud and proud advocates or just quietly building their fortunes, these billionaires demonstrate that success is the best revenge against anyone who ever said gay men couldn’t sit at the big table.
(Note – the net worth numbers presented here are public estimates as of early 2025 – these numbers can and do change, of course – but what’s an extra million or two when you’re a billionaire?…)
1. Peter Thiel – $16.2 Billion
Tech bro extraordinaire Peter Thiel tops our list with a ridiculous $16.2 billion. This PayPal co-founder and early Facebook investor has that special knack for turning startups into goldmines.
His data analytics company Palantir Technologies sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings but makes money like it’s printing it.
Thiel kept his sexuality under wraps until dramatically coming out at the 2016 Republican National Convention, declaring, “I am proud to be gay.”
His politics make him something of an oddball in gay circles, especially his takes on transgender rights as “distractions.”
2. Giorgio Armani – $9.98 Billion
If you’ve ever looked at your bank account after shopping at an Armani store, you’ve contributed to Giorgio’s nearly $10 billion fortune. Since 1975, this design master has been making people look fabulous while making himself filthy rich.
Armani played the “no comment” game about his personal life for decades before finally acknowledging his bisexuality in a 2000 Vanity Fair interview and again in 2024.
Took you long enough, Giorgio! But when you’re building a global fashion empire, I guess coming out takes a backseat to deciding what shade of beige best represents understated luxury.
3. David Geffen – $8.7 Billion
From mailroom grunt to entertainment kingpin with $8.7 billion in the bank – David Geffen’s story is the stuff of Hollywood legend.
This founder of Asylum Records, Geffen Records, and DreamWorks has fingers in more pies than a clumsy baker.
Geffen came out back in 1992 when being an openly gay executive could certainly still torpedo your career. Not only did he survive the potential fallout, but he’s been throwing cash at health research and LGBTQ+ causes when such support could get you blacklisted in certain circles.
4. Jon Stryker – $5.6 Billion
Born with a silver spoon from the Stryker Corporation medical tech fortune, Jon could have easily been one of those trust fund kids who does nothing but collect sports cars.
Instead, he’s pumped millions into LGBTQ+ rights worldwide through his Arcus Foundation.
Since coming out around 2000, Stryker has been the sugar daddy the gay rights movement desperately needed, funding everything from marriage equality campaigns to trans rights initiatives.
Next time you’re enjoying freedoms that seemed impossible 20 years ago, you might want to blow a kiss Jon’s way.
5. Tim Cook – $2.5 Billion
When Tim Cook grabbed Apple’s wheel after Steve Jobs, skeptics wondered if he’d crash the company faster than iTunes crashes on Windows.
Fast forward to 2025, and Cook’s sitting on $2.5 billion while Apple continues its world domination tour.
As the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Cook shattered that glass closet with his 2014 coming out.
His statement that being gay is “among the greatest gifts God has given me” probably caused a few conservative shareholders to choke on their morning coffee. Watching their stock price continue to climb anyway? Priceless.
6. Stein Erik Hagen – $2.3 Billion
Norwegian grocery store magnate Stein Erik Hagen built a $2.3 billion empire starting with the RIMI supermarket chain. Who knew selling frozen fish and toilet paper could make you a billionaire?
Hagen shocked Norway by coming out as bisexual on television in 2015 at the ripe age of 59. Talk about a mid-life revelation!
His late-in-life coming out reminds us that sexuality can be complicated, and apparently, there’s no expiration date on sexual awakenings – especially when you’re cushioned by billions of kroner.
7. Tom Ford – $2.2 Billion
The man who made Gucci hot again before launching his own luxury brand, Tom Ford, has a net worth of $2.2 billion and a knack for making everyone feel slightly aroused just looking at his ads.
Ford has never been shy about his sexuality or his perspectives, bringing a distinctly queer sensibility to mainstream luxury.
His refusal to water down his vision has not only made him rich but created space for queer aesthetics in high-end fashion. Plus, the man ages like fine wine – another reason to be slightly annoyed with him.
8. Domenico Dolce – $1.74 Billion
As one half of the Dolce & Gabbana empire, Domenico Dolce parlayed his Sicilian aesthetic into a cool $1.74 billion. Not too shabby for a tailor’s son from a small town.
While openly gay, Dolce stepped into a steaming pile of controversy after criticizing same-sex parenting and IVF, calling children born through this process “synthetic.”
9. Stefano Gabbana – $1.56 Billion
The other half of the D&G duo, Stefano Gabbana, has amassed $1.56 billion while creating fashion that screams “subtle is for poor people.”
His business partnership with Dolce outlasted their romantic one – proving that money might be the most powerful aphrodisiac after all.
Gabbana has grumbled about being labeled primarily as gay, preferring to be seen simply as a man rather than defined by his sexuality.
Which is ironic coming from someone whose brand has built its identity on being EXTRA in all capital letters. But with $1.56 billion, you get to have whatever identity you want.
10. Sam Altman – $1.1 Billion
Baby billionaire Sam Altman runs OpenAI and previously headed Y Combinator, putting him at the bleeding edge of the technology that’s either going to save humanity or replace us all.
At $1.1 billion, he’s the poorest rich guy on our list – practically slumming it!
As an openly gay tech exec, Altman brings much-needed diversity to an industry where “inclusive” often means “we have both PC and Mac users in the office.”
Sam married engineer Oliver Mulherin in January 2024, and they now also have a son.
With AI increasingly controlling everything from your dating prospects to your credit score, having queer perspectives in leadership positions matters more than most people realize.
