Anna Wintour is one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. As the editor-in-chief of American Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast, Wintour wields immense power and commands respect wherever she goes. But how much is the iconic editor worth? Let’s take a deep dive into Anna Wintour’s wealth and career.

She is not as rich as KIm Kardashian which I think is really weird. This woman owns the fashion industry. She is the head of but okay.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Anna Wintour was born in 1949 in London to an aristocratic British family. Her father, Charles Wintour, was the London Evening Standard newspaper editor. From an early age, Wintour was immersed in journalism and fashion.

As a teenager in the 1960s, Wintour cultivated her style, getting her signature bob haircut and frequented the shops on London’s Carnaby Street. She dropped out of school at just 15 years old and worked at the iconic Biba boutique. This marked the beginning of her career in fashion.

Over the next decade, Wintour held various roles at fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar UK and Viva. She moved to New York City in 1975 and had stints at Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and New York Magazine, gradually climbing the editorial ladder.

Even in her early career, Wintour was known for her demanding personality and perfectionism. She developed a reputation for entirely redesigning magazines she worked for and orchestrating dramatic fashion shoots. Her ambition was clear – she wanted to be editor-in-chief of Vogue.

Becoming Editor-in-Chief of Vogue

In 1983, Wintour’s dream came true. At 33 years old, she was named editor-in-chief of American Vogue, becoming the youngest person to hold the title.

When Wintour took over, Vogue was seen as stagnant and needed help to connect with younger readers. She immediately shook things up, changing the magazine’s design, increasing focus on celebrities and pop culture, and mixing in more casual and activewear fashion alongside couture gowns.

Her revamp was controversial but successful. Wintour ushered Vogue into a new era and shaped contemporary fashion media as we know it today. Under her watch, the magazine saw massive growth in circulation and advertising. Her makeover of Vogue cemented her status as a force in fashion.

Wintour’s Influence Expands

Over her decades-long tenure as Vogue’s editor, Wintour acquired even more power and sway in the fashion and media.

In 2013, she was named the artistic director of Condé Nast, giving her creative control over all of the publisher’s magazines. Vogue became one of the many significant glossies under Wintour’s direction, alongside publications like Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Glamour.

Wintour also frequently leveraged her star power for philanthropic fundraising efforts. She organized the annual Met Gala, one of the biggest nights in fashion, to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The exclusive event raked in millions thanks to Wintour’s elite Rolodex.

Outside of print, Wintour executive produced the 2016 fashion documentary The First Monday in May and appeared in The Devil Wears Prada, a film partially inspired by her image. She even had a short cameo in Ocean’s 8.

By the 2010s, Wintour had achieved broad fame and notoriety. With her signature pageboy bob and sunglasses, she became a globally identifiable persona – an accomplishment nearly unheard of for a magazine editor.

What is Anna Wintour’s Salary?

As editor-in-chief of American Vogue, what does Anna Wintour earn every year? Reports have estimated her annual salary at Condé Nast to be around $2 million.

While a couple million may not seem huge compared to C-suite execs in other industries, it’s a massive number for the media world. For context, Wintour’s salary is said to be more than five times higher than the average Vogue editor’s earnings.

On top of her multimillion-dollar base pay, Wintour enjoys lavish perks from Condé Nast. She reportedly receives a $200,000 annual clothing allowance to spend however she wishes and a chauffeured Mercedes S-Class to shuttle her around town. Not a bad work package.

Wintour’s compensation reflects her undisputable value to Vogue and Condé Nast. Even as magazines have declined in profitability, Wintour remains a significant asset through the prestige and visibility she lends.

Breaking Down Anna Wintour’s Net Worth

So, what is Anna Wintour’s total net worth? Most estimates show her net worth is around $50 million as of 2022.

Most of Wintour’s fortune comes from her long, highly-paid career at Condé Nast. But she has also earned money through other ventures:

• Real estate: Wintour owns multimillion-dollar homes in Manhattan and Long Island. Her primary residence is a $17 million townhouse in NYC.
• Investments: She has invested broadly in stocks and startups. Wintour was an early investor in brands like Net-a-Porter and Warby Parker.
• Consulting and board roles: Brands hire Wintour for consulting gigs, and she serves on boards like the Center for Fiction.
• Books and film: Wintour has authored books and executive-produced docs like The First Monday in May, generating additional income.

While most of Wintour’s wealth is thanks to her Condé Nast career, she has supplemented it through savvy investments that leverage her fashion expertise and connections. Her net worth will likely continue to rise steadily in the years ahead.

Signs of Wintour’s Wealth

Aside from her net worth, Anna Wintour’s wealth is apparent through her lavish lifestyle. She spends money on:

• Fashion: With her endless clothing budget, Wintour wears couture outfits daily from brands like Chanel, Prada, and Gucci.
• Homes: Her $17 million NYC townhouse and $2.6 million Long Island estate are luxuriously furnished.
• Travel: Wintour flies private, stays at five-star hotels, and summers on yachts in Europe.
• Parties: She throws exclusive, star-studded parties at her homes and expensive venues.
• Philanthropy: Wintour regularly donates vast sums to the Met Costume Institute and political campaigns.
• Tennis: She reportedly spent $2 million turning her Long Island garage into a professional tennis court.

Wintour’s wealth enables an extravagant lifestyle most fashionistas can only dream of. But she also uses the perks of being rich to benefit the arts, politics, and culture overall.

Controversies Around Wintour’s Wealth

Despite her success, Wintour’s wealth and spending have stirred controversies. Critics have called her out for:

• Elitism: Flaunting designer goods and $17 million homes seems out-of-touch to many during economic recessions.
• Wastefulness: Some believe Wintour’s lavish spending on fashion and tennis courts is frivolous.
• Unfair compensation: Her multimillion-dollar salary has been called unfair when Condé Nast employees with less status earn far less.
• Lack of diversity: Wintour has been accused of prioritizing the needs of wealthy white people over people of color.

However, Wintour and Condé Nast defend her pay and perks as justified given her track record innovating Vogue and raising millions for the Met Gala year after year. Many in the fashion community argue that Wintour has more than earned her elite financial status.

The Final Word on Wintour’s Wealth

There’s no denying that Anna Wintour is rich and wildly wealthy. Her fortune of $50 million and elite lifestyle put her in the top fraction of the one per cent.

Yet few can claim to have her level of impact on an entire industry. She reinvented Vogue for the modern era and turned the Met Gala into a legendary pop culture phenomenon. That track record of success is why Condé Nast continues to pay Wintour an outsized salary and shower her with perks.

While Wintour’s wealth may seem over the top, she’s earned her fashion icon status through decades of hard work and vision. For better or worse, her fortunes are unlikely to change anytime soon. Anna Wintour remains firmly cemented as one of the richest, most influential women in media.