Moira Rose from “Schitt’s Creek” would surely agree with us when we say our favorite season is awards. There’s nothing quite like looking longingly at A-listers’ gorgeous gowns as they arrive. Some of the most stunning red-carpet looks include the pink princess dress worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in 1999, Halle Berry’s unforgettable burgundy Elie Saab gown she wore to the Oscars in 2002, and, more recently, Janelle Monáe’s bedazzled, hooded Ralph Lauren dress she wore to the 2020 Oscars.
Of course, such fabulous designer gowns do not come cheap. According to stylist Jessica Paster, who spoke to The Cut, stylists earn between $30,000 to $50,000 for making deals between designers and celebrities. In some cases, celebrities are also paid between $100,000 and $250,000 by designers to rep their brands on the red carpet. In such an industry, it comes as no surprise to learn that certain celebrities have walked the carpet wearing gowns that cost eye-watering sums. Here, we take a look at some of the priciest gowns in Hollywood history.
Charlize Theron’s Christian Dior pale pink gown
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Charlize Theron looked every inch the Hollywood star at the 2012 Golden Globes, where she was nominated for her role in “Young Adult.” The star wore a pale pink Christian Dior dress with a plunging v-neckline and a tufted bow, which covered the top of a sky-high slit. The dress trailed off in an elegant train, and the actor accessorized with Cartier jewelry, a pair of Givenchy pale heels, and a wavy boho updo. The dress alone was worth an estimated $30,000, while the Cartier diamonds were thought to be worth over $8 million. She also carried a $20,000 clutch by the label. According to the Daily Mail, Theron was likely loaned the dress and the jewels for the event.
The look may have been pricey, but it was a universal hit that appeared on numerous best-dressed lists that year. In 2014, Daily News even cited the look as the perfect example of a star who knows how to dress for the red carpet.
Anne Hathaway’s 2011 Valentino gown
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In 2011, Anne Hathaway rocked up to the Oscars in a stunning bright red strapless gown by Valentino. She also brought the designer as her plus one to the event. The stunning vintage gown was originally shown in the designer’s 2002 collection and featured ruffles on the sides of the thighs, a bunched bustle-like structure at the back, and an elegant, floor-sweeping train. She paired the look with an eye-catching diamond necklace valued at $10 million. The actor’s gown alone cost $80,000, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Hathaway continued to collaborate with Valentino, even wearing a wedding dress by the designer the following year. The actor was also supposed to wear a Valentino gown to the Oscars in 2013, but she felt it to be too similar to the $80,000 gown she donned in 2011. Afterward, she issued an apology to Valentino. “Though I love the [Prada] dress I did wear, it was a difficult last-minute decision as I had so looked forward to wearing Valentino in honor of the deep and meaningful relationship I have enjoyed with the house and with Valentino himself,” a statement provided to WWD read.
Kate Winslet’s six-figure Valentino dress
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In 2007, Kate Winslet attended the Oscars in a statuesque mint green gown by Valentino. The dress featured a simple form-fitted design and a ruched, crossed bodice. The fabric from the bodice draped over one shoulder, cascading into an elegant train across her back. She paired the sleek gown with a chic low updo, a striking gold clutch, and a pair of gold statement earrings. “To be perfectly honest, this really, truly is my favorite,” Winslet revealed on the red carpet, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. “For a very simple reason: My daughter picked the color and I just think that’s great. She’s 6 years old and one day maybe she’ll borrow this and play dress up in it.”
Although many fans adored the dress, some fashion critics weren’t too keen on the green shade that Winslet’s daughter Mia loved. “The seafoam green gown does nothing for her coloring,” Glamour reported. We’d all agree, though, that this dress was certainly not cheap. It retailed for $100,000, according to Vanity Fair.
Cate Blanchett paired her expensive gown with jewelry worth millions
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In 2014, Cate Blanchett not only won a Best Actress Oscar for “Blue Jasmine,” but she also won the red carpet with her heavenly Armani Privé gown. The nude dress featured delicate appliqué crystal petals, a high neckline, and a fluttery long skirt. She wore her cropped blonde hair in retro waves with a deep side part and paired the gown with Chopard jewelry — 62-opal drop earrings, a brown diamond bracelet, and a diamond ring. At the time, British Vogue reported that the entire look, which was styled by Elizabeth Stewart, was worth around $18 million. Most of this came down to the cost of the jewelry, but the dress alone was $100,000.
Although she looked like an ethereal fairy in this airy gown, Blanchett’s gown was far from weightless. As she told E! News on the red carpet, “It’s heavy, but it’s — I love it.”
Lupita Nyong’o’s pearly dress
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Lupita Nyong’o’s 2015 Oscars dress may have looked expensive to those of us watching the awards ceremony, but it wasn’t until after the event that we learned its true price tag. The ivory dress by Calvin Klein featured delicate rows of beadwork featuring 6,000 white Akoya pearls, an open back, and a long, draped skirt. Sadly, after the ceremony, someone broke into the star’s hotel room at The London West Hollywood and stole the dress. The news was reported by TMZ at the time, which claimed that the gown was worth $150,000.
The dress was later returned in a garbage bag, with the thief claiming the pearls were fake. In a statement to WWD after the dress’s recovery, Francisco Costa, women’s creative director at Calvin Klein Collection, said, “This was an amazing collaboration between the brand and Lupita and the dress looked truly exquisite on her. Once it’s returned to us, we will be able to have the dress restored and archived, as it now represents an important moment for the brand.”
Lady Gaga’s Armani Privé dress
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Talk about a show-stopping dress — in 2018 Lady Gaga wore a breathtaking black Armani Privé dress to the Oscars. The gown actually comprised a lace catsuit paired with one of the biggest skirts you’ve ever seen. The black skirt, which tied around the waist, trailed out for what seemed like miles behind Gaga. With its subtle sparkle pattern, it gave the illusion of a vast night sky. Gaga leaned into the drama of the dress, wearing Gothic drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz and dark, smoky eye makeup. She added to the drama with a pair of towering platform boots.
What we love most about this bold look is its versatility. Once Gaga got inside the auditorium, she ditched the cumbersome train and rocked the lace catsuit by itself, adding a lace black cowboy hat to complete her ensemble. This over-the-top outfit was far from cheap, though. According to Vogue, the look cost nearly $166,000.
Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday gown
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In 1954, Audrey Heburn made Oscars history when she wore a white lace gown to the awards show. With it’s delicate floral pattern, full skirt, and belted waistline, it became an instant classic. Hepburn took home the award for Best Actress for her role in “Roman Holiday” and dubbed the gown her “lucky” dress. The look, designed by the legendary costume designer Edith Head, was originally meant for the final scene of the film and was later adapted for the red carpet by Hubert de Givenchy, who went on to design almost all of Hepburn’s clothes in future films. The gown was worth just over $174,000, according to Vogue.
In November 2011, the dress, along with a coordinating jacket and hat, was put up for auction. It ended up selling for less than its original value: $131,292. Nevertheless, that’s a lot to spend on a dress!
Paris Hilton’s crystal gown
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When Taylor Swift said she was “bejeweled,” we’re willing to bet she was imagining something like this dress. In 2017, Paris Hilton turned up at the Hollywood Beauty Awards and wowed us all with a crystal-covered gown designed by August Getty. According to Yahoo! Life, the dress featured a half-million Swarovski crystals, which were alone worth a staggering $270,000 — that’s not even including the cost of designing and building the dress! “It took over two months to complete and over six months of technical design, with as many as five people working on it at the same time,” Getty told the publication. It’s no wonder Getty dubbed the gown a “million-dollar dress.”
The designer took to Instagram to share an image of Hilton in the gown. “Honored to pass this crystal wonder on to yet another #GettyGirl, especially during her win of Fragrance of the year!” he wrote. Not only was this dress incredibly pricey, it wasn’t necessarily easy to wear — Hilton nearly tripped on the bedazzled train when posing for photos.
Camila Coelho luxurious black gown
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In 2018, blogger Camila Coelho didn’t pull any punches with her glamorous black gown at the Cannes Film Festival. The dress, designed by Ralph & Russo Haute Couture, featured a velvet bodice and mini skirt along with an elaborate black organza train. “Working on a custom couture piece with Camila for this season’s Cannes Film Festival could not have been more inspirational,” the designer told Harper’s Bazaar. “Camila continues to be the ultimate muse; she has a real affinity with the direction of the brand and epitomizes the Ralph & Russo woman in every sense.” The ensemble, which included the gown, a 79-carat necklace, earrings, and rings, was worth $1 million, according to the publication.
Coelho later opened up about the show-stopping look on her blog. The dress was, as she wrote, “dramatic and grandiose.” She went on to explain how she worked with the designer to craft the custom look together. “We chose a black model, kind of like a dark princess, with sensual and retro footprint,” she wrote. “Short on the front, in velvet and with a super voluminous skirt. I wanted to sleep with it.” We can totally see why!
Rihanna 55-pound Met Gala gown
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It’s hard to think of a more groundbreaking red carpet look than Rihanna’s iconic sunflower yellow gown, which she wore to the 2015 Met Gala. Designed by Chinese couturier Guo Pei, the look featured a massive embroidered cape lined with fur, which weighed over 55 pounds.
As Pei told the Evening Standard, Rihanna had reached out after spotting the cape on the runway. “In the beginning when Rihanna reached out, I didn’t know who she was because I was not really paying attention to the entertainment world, I wasn’t really a red carpet designer,” Pei said. “I was actually nervous as I didn’t know if Rihanna would be able to carry it off, it’s such a heavy dress and such a unique piece.” Pei was designing dresses that sold for at least $1 million at the time, so this dress likely cost a pretty penny. It’s easy to see why, though. It took Pei 20 months to create. Plus, it’s crafted from real gold thread and fox fur.
Caroline Correa’s Magnum Gold gown
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Some of the most expensive red carpet dresses have a pretty strange backstory. Just take Zac Posen’s bizarre 24-karat gold gown, which he designed in 2013 in collaboration with Magnum in honor of their Gold ice cream bar. The gold dress featured a form-fitting design and a simple trailing skirt, which was covered with giant glistening gold sequins. The dress was worth a staggering $1.5 million. “Creating my first-ever 24-karat gold dress was a truly priceless experience,” Posen, who was working as a “Project Runway” judge at the time, revealed to the Daily Mail. He added, “I pulled inspiration from Magnum Gold?! for the dress design … the train reminds me of melting ice cream. The dress is so decadent.”
Although the dress was created as part of a PR campaign for Magnum, it did get an outing on the red — or, should we say, gold – carpet. In April, actor Caroline Correa wore the dress to the premiere of “As Good As It Gets,” a film Posen created with Magnum in honor of their new ice cream bar.
Nicole Kidman’s multi-million-dollar ensemble
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At the 1997 Oscars, Nicole Kidman turned heads with a daring Dior gown designed by John Galliano. The dress made headlines for its bold chartreuse shade, its unusual chinoiserie embroidery, and its mink lining, which made it one of the most iconic Oscar dresses in recent history.
“John [Galliano] made it for me, and I love it,” Kidman told reporter Merle Ginsberg while on the red carpet, as later recounted in a piece for The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t know if people will get it. But if they don’t, well, maybe they should.” Apparently, Joan Rivers, who was also covering the event, shouted out, “I hate that color! You are making me puke!” At the time, however, Joan’s daughter, Melissa Rivers, was blown away by the look. “I still remember Nicole Kidman showing up in the green Dior [in 1997], and that was the first true couture dress on the red carpet, and you went, ‘Wow,'” the E! fashion reporter later told Vanity Fair.
Nicole Kidman was paid a staggering $2 million to wear the dress, which made it the most expensive Oscars dress at the time.
Jennifer Lawrence’s heavenly ball gown
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In 2013, Jennifer Lawrence broke Nicole Kidman’s record of wearing the most expensive dress to the Oscars with her heavenly Christian Dior gown designed by Raf Simons. The strapless pale pink dress featured a structured, voluminous skirt that ballooned out from her hips into a low hoop skirt. According to Marie Claire, the dress was worth a staggering $4 million.
Although this dress is famous for its ridiculous price tag, it’s also now known as the dress that Lawrence famously took a tumble in while making her way up to the podium to accept her Oscar for “Silver Linings Playbook.” As Lawrence later told W Magazine, she had fallen because she had forgotten how to walk in the priceless dress. “Something was running through my head, like, ‘cakewalk, cakewalk, cakewalk,'” she recalled. She later remembered that what her stylist had told her was, “Kick, walk. Kick, walk.” She added, “You were supposed to kick the dress out while you walked, and I totally forgot because I was just thinking about cake,” she said.
Kim Kardashian’s borrowed Marilyn Monroe gown
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Few red-carpet dresses caused quite as much of a stir as the one worn by Kim Kardashian at the 2022 Met Gala. Marilyn Monroe made the dress famous when she wore it to John F. Kennedy’s birthday in 1962, where she famously sang a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday.” The dress, designed by Jean Louis, featured sheer nude fabric covered in tiny glittering crystals — about 6,000 of them.
Kim borrowed the dress from Ripley’s Believe or Not! under strict guidance that she could only wear the dress on the red carpet itself in order to keep it in pristine condition. “I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do,” Kim told Vogue. “Everything had to be specifically timed and I had to practice walking up the stairs.” According to Harper’s Bazaar, the dress is worth over $10 million.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Project Runway Stars Who Sadly Died
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BY KRISTA MARIA PICCOTTI/OCT. 20, 2022 9:04 AM EST
There have been about 300 contestants over the course of “Project Runway’s” 19 seasons. We’ve seen designers from all over the world and from all walks of life bring forth their ambitious, unique, and sometimes outrageous ideas. While some designers make it farther in the competition than others, even the designers who were eliminated early on in the competition hold a special spot in our hearts. During the course of a season, we learn about every designer’s goals, desires, and backgrounds. We fall in love with each designer’s humor, sense of style, and outlandish personality. In many cases, the contestants become celebrities to the dedicated viewers of the show and the world of fashion.
Unfortunately, four “Project Runway” contestants have died over the course of its 19-season run: Wendy Pepper from Season 1, Mychael Knight from Season 3, Chris March from Season 4, and Kooan Kosuke from Season 10. We watched these designers grow in their creative processes and technical design skills throughout the course of the competition and now we celebrate the mark these designers have left on “Project Runway” and the world of fashion. They will be remembered for their ambitious designs, big personalities, and the inspiration they bring to aspiring designers who want to make it in the cut-throat business of fashion. By their close friends, family, and communities they will be remembered as the wonderful imperfect humans that they were. Each of their legacies remains in our hearts and minds and will never be forgotten.
Before Wendy Pepper was Wendy Pepper
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Before her fashion design career took off, Wendy Pepper was Anne Eustis Pepper. According to Middleburg Life, Wendy was born in Dayton, Ohio, but grew up in Washington. Pepper always embraced her creative side. During college, she decided to study abroad in Nepal where she learned about textiles and became fascinated with clothes and design. In the 1990s she moved to Middleburg, Virginia, where she would eventually raise her daughter, Finley Stewart.
Before “Project Runway,” Wendy ran her own business making hand-stitched wedding dresses and couture gowns. Pepper felt a strong connection with her community in Virginia. She organized auctions for charity events and ran an art camp in her front yard. In an interview with The Picket, Pepper said, “I like to live and work in my community, I feel like it’s an open door for people to come in and experience the world of fashion” (via Middleburg Life). Wendy opened her doors to her community, becoming a beloved and valued member.
Stewart spoke to Middleburg Life about growing up with a mother who had an abundance of passion, creativity, and love. She described growing up with Wendy as “the greatest adventure. Creativity was always the most important thing, and it showed up in everything we did. We were a team … My childhood was a never-ending play date with my best friend.” Her daughter admires her mother for her ambition to take on any type of creative project.
Wendy Pepper starred in Season 1 of Project Runway
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Wendy Pepper was on the first season of “Project Runway” in 2004, during which she was a final contestant and showed her collection at New York Fashion Week. Pepper was unliked by many of the contestants and struggled to connect with the younger designers. She was primarily pitted against fashion designer Kara Saun, who also made it to the finale of the show. Saun didn’t believe Pepper deserved to be at Fashion Week, and famously gave Pepper the silent treatment in the days leading up to the big finale. However, being cast as the villain of the season did not hinder Pepper’s success.
In the overall competition of “Project Runway’s” first season, Pepper came in third place. According to Middleburg Life, Pepper told The Picket, “There will always be people who love or hate your work … It’s important to create one’s own sense and hold on to it.” During the show, Pepper won challenges that gave her the opportunity to sell one of her designs to Banana Republic and design Nancy O’Dell’s Grammys dress.
In 2012, Pepper appeared in “Project Runway: All Stars” where her peers welcomed her as a “Project Runway” icon. During the show, many of the other designers went gaga over the “Project Runway” alumna and welcomed her with open arms. While some contestants were initially skeptical of Pepper, once they got to know her, almost all the contestant gave her high praise; some even described her as “the nicest person ever.”
Wendy Pepper had continued success before her early death
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Post-“Project Runway,” Wendy Pepper ran her own shop, Wedding and Belles, where she created made-to-order wedding dresses out of her basement in Middleburg, Virginia. According to Middleburg Life, Pepper also had a collection of brightly colored children’s riding clothes that were sold online and at a local store, Highcliffe Clothiers.
However, Pepper wasn’t just a fashion designer — she was an artist with a range of special talents. Pepper’s love of cooking and baking led her to launch a business selling artisanal cookies and soups at farmer’s markets. Her artistic adventures were boundless, and included writing a book about mermaids and painting the steps of her walkway shimmering gold as a reference to the Yellow Brick Road from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Pepper died in 2017 at just 53 years old from pneumonia complications during her months-long battle with cancer. At the age of 18, Finley Stewart mourned her mother’s death alongside her grandparents, her three uncles, aunt, and several cousins. Wendy Pepper’s obituary in the Washington Post describes her as dying “surrounded by her loving family” and “an artist who proudly forged her own path.” While Pepper’s life was short, she made a profound impact on her community, friends, family, and the world at large. We’ll miss her spunky, adventurous spirit, her tenacious ambition, and of course, her sense of style.
Mychael Knight starred in Season 3 of Project Runway
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Mychael Knight was born in Nuremberg, Germany, but grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and graduated from high school in Washingtonville, New York. He earned a degree in apparel design and merchandising from Georgia Southern University. According to NBC News, before becoming a contestant on Season 3 of “Project Runway,” Knight interned at Wilbourn Exclusives, a fashion studio in Atlanta, Georgia, and in 2002 he began his career as a fashion stylist for musicians. While he did not win “Project Runway” in 2006, Knight was voted fan-favorite for his personality and chic style, which translated into the clothing he designed. His collection was shown at New York Fashion Week, and he came in fourth place in the overall competition.
In an interview with Ebony magazine, Knight stated that his favorite kinds of designs to create are those that “pique interest but still read as wearable and relatable.” Knight’s friend Jerris Madison told NBC that he believes “Project Runway” helped launched Knight’s career as the designer garnered celebrity clients and grew his brand. In 2009, Knight returned to the show as a contestant on Season 3 of “Project Runway: All Stars,” in which he placed eighth overall.
Mychael Knight saw great success before his untimely death
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Following his run on “Project Runway,” in 2007, Mychael Knight introduced his self-named label on BET’s “Rip the Runway” (per Obvious Magazine). In 2008, he launched a lingerie line for both men and women, called Kitty & Dick. Knight’s career included designing custom tees for Starbucks, launching his fall-winter line in 2010, and launching and ralaunching a second line called MYKA. According to an interview with Ebony, he was working on a dress line a few months before his death in October 2017. He’s worked with a variety of celebrity clients such as Sherri Shepherd, Keri Hilson, Toni Braxton, Ciara, Keke Palmer, Jessica White, Claire Sulmers, and more.
Mychael Knight was just 39 years old when he passed away in 2017. The family did not release his cause of death, but the designer had been open with the public about his struggle with intestinal issues. He had been struggling with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for about five years and suffered from symptoms such as abdominal pain and extreme fatigue. After the announcement of his death, celebrities shared pictures of themselves wearing his creations to honor Knight and his legacy (per People).
Knight’s friend Jerris Madison published a piece reflecting on his friendship with Knight in Obvious Magazine. Madison described Knight as being a “mama’s boy” and a “passionate, outspoke, direct, kind, and unapologetic” artist.
Chris March was a costume designer prior to Project Runway
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Chris March was born in Alameda, California, and grew up in Northern California with his three brothers. According to The New York Times, Chris was born with the urge to design, and loved making elaborate Halloween costumes when he was in high school. Before “Project Runway” the designer had success as a costume designer. When he lived in San Francisco, he designed costumes for a long-running musical revenue, “Beach Blanket Babylon.” The show ran from 1974 to 2019. A New York Times article that celebrates the show before it closed describes the show as a “pun-and-sight-gag-filled show has a feather-thin plot — Snow White, looking for love, wanders the world encountering famous people who sing pop song parodies, often about politics and celebrity.” The show was a perfect match for March’s wild imagination.
The Times describes a Martha Stewart-themed headpiece March made for the show, which included a pie, a lobster, and a pot of sunflowers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, March worked on the show for ten years before becoming a “Project Runway” contestant.
Datebook recounts March’s involvement in the drag scene. In 2001, he won a Drama Desk Award for his Shirley Temple costume in the drag show, “Christmas With the Crawfords.” March had always had a flair for theatrics, but while he loved the stage, he loved fashion even more.
Chris March was a fan-favorite in Season 4 of Project Runway
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In 2007, Chris March became a contestant on “Project Runway’s” fourth season. Chris created an extravagant collection that included the use of human hair and leopard print. Unfortunately, he was cut from the competition before he could show off his collection at New York Fashion Week, finishing fourth in the overall competition. However, he was voted fan-favorite because of his larger-than-life style, witticism, playful personality, hearty laugh, and outlandish creativity. GoldDerby reflects on some of our favorite March one-liners, like: “Look! Joan Rivers carved her name here when she was a little girl!” He also suggested that a “Project Runway” perfume would smell like “a mixture of fear, sweat, and Chinese food,” and once, when annoyed at his fellow contestant Christian Siriano, said, “Someone needs to give him a bottle and send him to bed.” We always love a good Chris March zinger.
In an interview with Media Beat, March admitted that he was surprised how much people took a liking to him on “Project Runway.” During the airing of the show, there was more activity on his website than ever before, and his inbox was filled with emails from fans of the show. March didn’t realize the effect being on television would have on his career. In 2009, Chris March was a contestant on a “Project Runway” special, “Project Runway: All-Star Challenge” where he came in third. Then in 2014, he appeared on “Project Runway: All Stars” for the show’s fourth season and placed 12th.
Chris March’s reality TV presence brought him success as a fashion designer
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Chris March’s reality TV presence and success as a contestant on “Project Runway” brought him fame as both a fashion designer and a television personality. He went on to star in his own reality TV series, “Mad Fashion” in 2011. During the show, March made outrageous outfits for celebrities such as Jennifer Coolidge, Ruthie Davis, and Jene Luciani. His designs on the show included a dress made out of shoes and a dress made of bras. He made an appearance on “The Real Housewives of New York City” to make Sonja Morgan a dress in preparation for her masquerade ball.
According to The New York Times, Chris went on to design clothes for celebrities on tour, like the futuristic one-piece bathing suit he designed Beyonce in 2009, and the long studded cape-like motorcycle jacket he designed for Lady Gaga in 2011. In 2010, Meryl Streep asked March to design her dresses for the Oscars and Golden Globes. March was honored and told People, “I wanted to faint! I have always wanted to design something for someone like that, and it was a great and amazing opportunity.” Streep’s dress was not like March’s usual over-the-top designs, but she looked stunning all the same.
Chris March experienced medical complications that led to his unfortunate death
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In 2017, Chris March had a terrible fall. He was on the floor for four days before he awoke and made it to the hospital. He was put in a medically induced coma for two months. When he awoke, he found that he was partially paralyzed in both of his legs and one of his arms and hands. March started a GoFundMe page to help with some of his medical expenses, which included leg braces, specialized physical therapy, a hearing aid, and a new living arrangement.
March’s GoFundMe page explained, “I have recently run into several setbacks in my recovery, the biggest one being that my medical insurance went up 500%” (via People). March also admitted to his fans that he’d been having suicidal thoughts due to his medical condition. Bravo television host Andy Cohen encouraged people to donate to the “Project Runway” alum’s GoFundMe page and donated to the page himself. The GoFundMe raised $59,954, more than halfway to March’s goal of raising $100,000.
In 2019, March died of a heart attack at the young age of 56. Many people in the fashion world mourned March’s death, including his “Project Runway” competitor and famous designer Christian Siriano, who posted on a picture of the two of them to Twitter, along with a caption that read, “Chris you brought so much beauty into this world and will truly be missed. It was an honor to share a very special experience with you. I hope you are resting someplace beautiful dressed in one of your unbelievable creations.”
Kooan Kosuke starred in Project Runway’s Season 10
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Kooan Kosuke was one of the contestants on “Project Runway’s” tenth season. He was known for his fun and outlandish designs. However, the Japanese designer decided to leave the show during the fourth episode of the season after discovering that Andrea Katz had pulled out of the competition in the middle of the night. Kosuke told the other designers, “I thought about it for three days, and I think I should go” (via “Today”). While the other designers were saddened to see him go, there was nothing anyone could say to convince him to stay. Kosuke had to make the decision that was right for him. The pressure of the show was just too much for Kosuke to handle.
However, his fashion career did not end there. In 2019, the designer produced a free runway show at Central Park in New York City in honor of Japan Day. In 2020, Kosuke’s friend posted on the designer’s Instagram that Kooan Kosuke had died of encephalopathy (FreshersLive). We will miss his vivacious personality and unique designs as his legacy lives on in his fashion.
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ENTERTAINMENT REALITY TV
Who Are The Richest HGTV Stars & How Much Are They Worth?
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BY The List Staff/UPDATED: APRIL 11, 2024 1:29 PM EST
Before their claim to fame, many HGTV stars were just working in the real estate industry to make a living — not thinking of the monumental success they would achieve. Then when HGTV came calling, their businesses began exploding, and their wallets were better off, too. Who knew these property gurus would develop such a big fan base from flipping houses?
Renovating a house may be tough, but it’s nowhere near as difficult as the journeys some of these stars had to endure on the road to success. “Flip or Flop” star Tarek El Moussa, for example, got his start while living in his mom’s garage. “I was so motivated living in that garage that within 120 days, I made enough money at the age of 22 to buy my first million-dollar home,” he told Fox News. In fact, HGTV has made most of its stars millionaires. From renovations to riches, these are the network’s richest stars.
David Bromstad
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When David Bromstad won the first season of “Design Star” in 2006, he was pretty much set up for HGTV stardom — not to mention that it also made him a millionaire. “If this show didn’t happen, then I don’t know where I would be,” he admitted in an HGTV promo.
Growing up as an aspiring artist, Bromstad was barely scraping by. However, he knew his dream wasn’t too far off. Once he won HGTV’s famous design competition, he quickly became famous himself. “I’m completely blessed,” he told Adwerx. “I went from starving artist to not-so starving.” Though interior wasn’t the kind of design he was used to, he has since become seriously skilled at it.
Bromstad is also known for hosting “My Lottery Dream Home” from 2015 to 2023 where he helped new millionaires find the home they’ve always wanted. He speaks from experience too, now that Celebrity Net Worth lists his net worth as $2 million.
Alison Victoria
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At only 10 years old, Alison Victoria’s parents let her redesign their basement, which sparked a lifelong passion for design. While the “Windy City Rehab” host has made herself a millionaire since, her home renovations weren’t always easy. “Because this business isn’t easy,” she admitted to Paolo Presta on “A Spoonful of Paolo” in 2019.
Victoria made headlines after viewers witnessed her cut ties with her business partner, Donovan Eckhardt, during Season 2. His failure to get a grip on their finances led to her firing him. “[It’s] your reputation that you have built, really from the ground up, since you were a little girl,” she told People. “And I’m not going to let one person destroy that.”
Though the situation surprised fans, Victoria didn’t let it veer her off track. After all, she had created “Windy City Rehab” as a way to showcase the raw side of renovations. “It’s my real life, so it’s not just TV,” she told Presta. Fortunately, Victoria has come out victorious, with Celebrity Net Worth noting her $3 million capital. In 2024, she began filming “Battle on the Mountain,” a spinoff series of “Battle on the Beach.”
Scott McGillivray
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Renovating properties on his own is what made Scott McGillivray a lot of money. Since starting his show “Income Property” in 2008, Celebrity Net Worth cites McGillivray as being worth $4 million.
It all started when McGillivray was in college and couldn’t find a place to live. That’s when he had an epiphany. “If I lived in the house and rented it out to my friends, I would make money living here versus paying rent every month,” he explained to Hoss Magazine. As a business student, he decided to take action. “It just kind of spiraled from there,” he said. By the time he was 25 years old, he had 25 properties in his possession. When HGTV came along, McGillivray was able to share his expertise with a wide audience. Though the paycheck is pretty nice, it’s helping homeowners that’s most rewarding for him. “I love seeing people get a good return on their investment.”
Over the past few years, McGillivray has been busy making bank on shows such as “Scott’s Own Vacation House” in 2022 and “Scott’s Vacation House Rules” in 2023. He was also the executive producer on “Canada’s Got Talent” for 17 episodes between 2022 and 2023.
Genevieve Gorder
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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Genevieve Gorder is worth a pretty penny, since she’s been in the home design business for over 20 years. Gorder rose to fame on the hit TLC show “Trading Spaces” in 2000, before she became an HGTV star thanks to her shows “Dear Genevieve” and “Genevieve’s Renovation.” However, Gorder was working long before she was on TV. “When I was a kid, we didn’t have a lot so at 14 I could work … I worked at … a frozen yogurt [shop],” she told Yahoo Finance. At the time, Gorder said she made about $3 an hour which is a far cry from the $5 million she’s worth now, per Celebrity Net Worth.
While Gorder is no longer on HGTV, she continued to find success hosting Netflix’s “Stay Here,” Bravo’s “Best Room Wins,” and Crackle’s “At Home With Genevieve.” She’s also a notable businesswoman who has her own furniture, rugs, wallpaper, and jewelry collections. On top of that, Gorder frequently partners with brands, like Scotties Facial.
It’s clear that Gorder has made it a point to be more than just a TV designer by growing her brand with an array of businesses. “Think of yourself as an octopus,” she explained to John Robshaw’s Designer Spotlight. “Keep yourself diversified and nimble in our field. Think about additionally designing product, consulting, teaching, making, etc. to keep the choo choo going.”
Egypt Sherrod
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Real estate runs in Egypt Sherrod’s family. This deterred her from diving into the real estate industry as a young adult, so she dove headfirst into radio instead. “But as I got older and wiser, I realized you have to do smarter things with that money, and I grew up knowing that real estate was the foundation of wealth,” she continued — and she’s right. According to Celebrity Net Worth, it’s made her worth $6 million.
Sherrod began by flipping her own houses to make money. However, after wasting cash on commissions for other real estate agents, she decided to become one. She never gave up working in radio on the side, so when HGTV came calling, it was a dream come true to combine broadcasting and renovating houses. “I jumped at the opportunity and felt like it was a gift from God to finally have a platform that shows all the different sides of me,” Sherrod added. In 2024, Sherrod joined the cast of “Battle of the Mountain” to lend her renovation skills to the highly anticipated show.
David Visentin
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David Visentin was working as a real estate agent when he got a call to audition for “Love It or List It.” Though he was new to the TV industry, his sister worked at a network and urged him to try out. “About a week later, my sister called me and said, ‘Hey, you’re shooting the pilot in a week,'” he explained to Monsters & Critics.
Visentin seemed destined to star alongside designer Hilary Farr. Though the two were known for bickering on the show — after all, it was a competition — it sure looked like he loved it after 15 years on the air. “Me and Hilary have a lot of fun together,” he told “The Real Estate Talk Show” in 2013. However, Visentin’s time on the show came to an end in 2023 after Hilary Farr retired following 19 successful seasons on-air.
Visentin is one of HGTV’s richest stars, with a net worth of $6 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. However, while HGTV gave Visentin a full plate, he still kept himself busy on his breaks from filming. “I sell real estate for a living,” he once said, so that accounts for some of his cash, too.
Nicole Curtis
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Long before HGTV’s “Rehab Addict” made Nicole Curtis a star, her house flips came with many hardships. “There are people who think that all of this came easily,” Curtis told Country Living. “I want them to know I was working for $9.75 an hour at Banana Republic, I was waiting tables, I was cleaning toilets.”
Luckily, HGTV helped Curtis make her next move. Though Season 1 of her hit series had her dumpster diving for materials to save money, HGTV has eventually made her one of its richest stars.
Curtis was always a real estate agent with a love for renovation — especially for houses that no other homeowners would ever take on. Because of that, she isn’t able to make any money from her flips, and instead, still owns every one of them. “I don’t sell them, because otherwise I would lose money on every single one of them,” Curtis revealed to KTLA 5 in 2018. To make up for lost funds, she lists them as Airbnbs, and obviously, it’s working. Celebrity Net Worth estimates she is sitting on a cool $8 million.
Hilary Farr
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Hilary Farr is a household name on HGTV because of her success co-hosting “Love It or List It.” From her gorgeous remodels and interior design to her sassy relationship with her co-host David Visentin, she made audiences fall in love with her. Farr is now worth a remarkable $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Surprisingly, Hilary Farr pursued a career in theatre and film before HGTV, appearing in a few movies, including “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This explains her knack for being on screen. However, when it comes to design, Farr told Baltimore Media Blog that falling into the profession was by chance. “Everyone loved my house in Los Angeles, so I decided to turn [it] into a business,” she recalled. Although it was by chance, it appears like she was made for interior design and renovation. Farr was even the first designer to stage homes in Toronto, which gave her the experience to make people love her work and stick with their homes most of the time on “Love It or List It.”
After 19 seasons on the show, Hilary Farr retired to focus on her health after battling breast cancer — she’s now in remission. When talking about the show, she told People, “It’s got me through hard times. It’s got the audiences through hard times. It has evolved into a mainstay of people’s lives and it’s been incredibly gratifying. But now it’s time for me to move on and meet new challenges.”
Candice Olson
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Even though “Divine Design” and “Candice Tells All” are off the air, Candice Olson is still taking on more in the world of decor. HGTV catapulted her own collection and today, made her one of its richest stars, with a massive net worth of $10 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
While this designer had originally planned to study medicine, her passion for interior decorating altered her path. “That became my whole world when I graduated,” she told The Washington Post. She went on to work for a few design firms before creating her own booming business in 1994.
Olson soon ended up appearing on local television, sharing her eye for design with daytime viewers. HGTV caught her on air and gave her a call. However, she wasn’t as excited about it as she should be. “I went into TV kicking and screaming,” Olson explained in her book “Candice Olson On Design.” Television wasn’t something she was used to, but, obviously, she was amazing at it. It made her a millionaire.
Jonathan Knight
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If you grew up in the late 1980s and early ’90s, you probably knew Jonathan Knight as a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block long before he found HGTV fame. Despite achieving success with the group at a young age, Knight was the first to walk away before they disbanded in 1994. After having enough of the chaotic pop star life, he decided to make a major career pivot to real estate development instead. “My career was over. Stumped, I thought, ‘How do I reinvent my life?'” he recalled to Architectural Digest.
Knight later realized, however, that his true passion was renovating old farmhouses, which led him to his HGTV show, “Farmhouse Fixer” in 2021. It seems like the gig was a dream come true for Knight, who told Heavy, “I never thought it would even come on air … It’s still so surreal.” NKOTB had ended up getting back together before that too, so Knight had to juggle filming his show with touring with the band again.
Of course, that wasn’t always easy. Knight explained to People in 2022, “There would be days when I would get off the stage at 11 at night, jump on a plane … fly all night, film all day, and then get back on a plane and go perform the next show.” Since Celebrity Net Worth reports that Knight is worth an impressive $14 million, it’s safe to say it’s been worth it.
Tarek El Moussa
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Tarek El Moussa — the other half of “Flip or Flop” – is also finding massive success since the show concluded after 10 seasons. El Moussa had been flipping houses long before he made it to television. He spent the early days of his real estate career teeter-tottering between success and hitting rock bottom when it came to selling homes, and that’s when he realized he needed to start flipping properties to make a bigger profit.
But that also came with an uphill battle during the 2008 financial crisis. “I love proving people wrong. I love it because I don’t like negative thinking — I hate it because it prevents people from living the life they should,” he told Forbes. That determination is what has led to his massive success, and net worth of $15 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. “I’m going to get us a TV show,” he recalled telling his now ex-wife, Christina Hall, after they bought their first flip — and that’s exactly what he did.
Since “Flip or Flop,” El Moussa has continued with his spin-off series, “Flipping 101 With Tarek El Moussa,” and his new show alongside his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, “The Flipping El Moussa,” which was renewed for a second season. He is also an author and his business, Tarek Buys Houses, flips 50 to 75 homes at a time. Needless to say, he loves what he does. “From 3:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., I’m running nonstop,” El Moussa told Business Insider.
Bryan and Sarah Baeumler
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In Canada, where many HGTV stars seem to hail from, Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are hard to miss. In 2019, their series “Island of Bryan” became HGTV Canada’s most-watched program on the network in over a decade. The series is so successful that it led to Bryan boasting a net worth of $20 million, via Celebrity Net Worth.
Because of the great ratings and raving fans, the Baeumlers were brought to the United States in March 2020. “If the show does as well in the U.S. as it has in Canada, it could just ruin our anonymity,” Bryan told the SunSentinel. In the U.S., “Island of Bryan” became known as “Renovation Island” following its name change and rebranding.
The series followed the Baeumler family’s move to the Bahamas, where they were renovating a resort they hoped to open. After airing in the U.S., “Renovation Island” drew in 60% more viewers to the network every Sunday night so it’s safe to say that the Baeumlers made even more bank after airing in the States. The show ran for five seasons from 2019 to 2022.
Christina Hall
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Christina Hall has been keeping busy since her start on “Flip or Flop” in 2013. She became a fan-favorite alongside her now ex-husband Tarek El Moussa for her design and home makeover skills.
Before her TV debut, Hall received her real estate license at a local community college, and at 21, she began selling homes in Southern California. In an Instagram post, Hall said, “I always loved looking at houses with my parents, especially model homes and I always wanted to be my own boss.” Although she never thought she’d be on TV, she quickly rose to stardom and is worth $25 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
After separating from El Moussa, she went solo on HGTV with her two shows, “Christina on the Coast” and “Christina in the Country,” and both have new seasons coming out in 2024. Rather than flipping, she is working with homeowners to do what she loves most, which is remodeling and making floorplans more functional. Outside of television, Hall also has her own flooring collection. She always remains focused on her passions and her three children and doesn’t plan on putting on the brakes anytime soon. “I feel like I’m really used to operating in a busy environment, and weirdly I enjoy it,” Hall admitted to Insider. “I think it just comes down to I really love what I do. And if you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work in that aspect.”
Mike Holmes
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Though Mike Holmes isn’t on HGTV anymore, he’s still one of the richest stars to come out of the network — worth a hefty $30 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
It all started with Holmes’ own construction company. As a contractor, he was consistently seeing the same mistakes being made in homes, and knew he could help homeowners “make it right.” After all, Holmes’ moniker offered the perfect pun for the home renovation business that appeared in the titles of his shows “Holmes on Homes” and “Holmes Makes It Right.”
“I appreciate being in the position to educate people on what’s right, whether it’s how a home should be constructed or how it should be inspected,” he told Working RE. Holmes’ can-do attitude and “make it right” motto are what made homeowners everywhere trust him. In fact, he was named Forbes’ third most trustworthy celebrity in 2012. “It amazes me, after doing my television show all these years, that I’m still seeing homeowners making the same knucklehead mistakes over and over,” he told DIY Network. However, without these “knuckleheads,” Holmes wouldn’t have his millions.
Cortney and Robert Novogratz
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When HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz” was on the air, it had quite an effect on Cortney and Robert Novogratz. “We acted as the contractors, architects, and designers,” Cortney admitted to Forbes about their first flip. It was figuring out how to flip houses on their own that made them stand out. “It was the beginning, although in some ways I feel like I’m just getting started!” So far, they’ve made themselves $30 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
Along with their seven children, their own design line, and their second role managing their kids’ acting careers — because, come on, they’ve already had major success on the small screen — this couple obviously likes to stay busy. Jumping into other aspects aside from interior design is what Cortney attributes her success to. After all, it’s the perfect way to bring in a big paycheck. “I’ll never be the richest,” Cortney said, but that’s never been what it’s all about. “It’s about constantly seeking happiness for myself and for those around me.” She also has seven mouths to feed!
Chip and Joanna Gaines
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Chip and Joanna Gaines are a textbook definition of an HGTV power couple. Married in 2003, the couple has built an empire surrounding their Magnolia brand following the success of their hit TV show “Fixer Upper” which aired in 2013. But it all began with humble beginnings with Chip flipping houses in Waco, Texas, and Joanna running a home decor store named Magnolia. They were discovered by a HGTV production company executive in 2011 and the rest is history.
The couple remains humble despite their combined net worth of $50 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. In an interview on “Today with Hoda & Jenna” in 2023, Jenna Bush Hager asked if they could believe the way they turned Waco into a tourist destination. “No, even when you say that out loud, it feels like we want to hide in the corner like that can’t be true,” Chip responded. But there’s no hiding. In Waco alone they own the Magnolia Market at the Silos, Hotel 1928, Magnolia Table, and Magnolia Home – they also have rental properties people can book to stay at.
Their network goes far beyond Texas; the Gaines are published authors, they curate original series for their Magnolia Network, and their beloved Hearth & Hand with Magnolia brand can be found in Target. If they weren’t busy enough with their business endeavors and five children, they also have a new season of their show “Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse” coming out in June 2024.
Drew and Jonathan Scott
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Growing up as aspiring actors, real estate was a way for Drew and Jonathan Scott to make money to fund their movies. They paid only $250 for their first flip and got $50,000 out of it. “That’s when the light bulb went on saying, ‘There’s something here,'” Jonathan told Smashing Interviews Magazine.
Following their first few flips, the duo we now know as the “Property Brothers” were called to host several real estate shows because of their background. “At first, I remember thinking, this is lame — I don’t want to be a host, I want to be a superstar, I want to act,” Drew admitted to USA Today. However, after thinking about the opportunities hosting would give them, they gave it a shot. The show “Property Brothers” aired for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019. Besides this, both twins have served as executive producers on several other home renovation shows like “Trixie Motel” and “Celebrity IOU.” This has not only made them highly recognizable figures in the HGTV world but also incredibly wealthy.
So, how much are the “Property Brothers” worth? A whopping $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, making them two of HGTV’s richest stars. “It all comes down to slow-motion renovations and tight jeans,” Drew joked. “That’s the winning recipe.”
Read More: https://www.thelist.com/1559492/most-expensive-outfits-red-carpet-history/
