What is Silas Chou's Net Worth?
Silas Chou is a Hong Kong businessman with a net worth of $3 billion. Though he was born into wealth, Chou significantly expanded his fortune through strategic investments in the fashion industry. His most notable success came in 1989 when he and business partner Lawrence Stroll invested in the fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger. The brand flourished in the 1990s and early 2000s, leading to its public offering in 1992. They sold the business in 2006. Beyond Hilfiger, Chou and Stroll's company, Capri Holdings, invested in brands like Michael Kors and Karl Lagerfeld.
Early Life
Silas Chou was born into a wealthy family. His father, Chao Kuang-piu, founded South Ocean Knitters, one of Asia's largest knitwear manufacturers and exporters. In the 1980s, through his father, Chou met Lawrence Stroll, an up-and-coming fashion entrepreneur.
Sportswear Holdings
In 1989, Chou and Stroll became business partners, forming Sportswear Holdings. They made a pivotal move by acquiring majority control of the then-unknown fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. Under their leadership, the brand's popularity soared, symbolizing the youth culture of the era. By the end of the 1990s, Tommy Hilfiger's annual revenue exceeded $1 billion. In 2006, they sold the company for $1.6 billion.
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Capri Holdings
Chou and Stroll extended their success to other brands, including Karl Lagerfeld, Pepe Jeans, and Michael Kors. In 2002, they leased space in Trump Tower to open Asprey & Garrard's New York store. In 2003, they acquired a majority share in Michael Kors for $100 million. In 2011, Michael Kors went public, and by 2014, the brand’s success continued to grow. In 2017, their company acquired Jimmy Choo for nearly $1 billion, and in 2018, they acquired Versace for $2.1 billion, subsequently rebranding the company as Capri Holdings. Today, Capri Holdings generates approximately $5.5 billion in annual revenue.
Racing Investments
Lawrence Stroll is a passionate sports car collector with a collection valued at over $100 million. In 2018, Chou joined Stroll as an investor in the racing team Force India, which was rebranded as Racing Point F1 India.
Aston Martin
In January 2020, Chou partnered with Stroll to acquire 17% of the luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin.
