Haute 100: New York City

The most influential people in the world’s most powerful city

Philip Falcone
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Harbinger Capital Partners
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: This Harvard graduate founded Harbinger back in 2001, the hedge fund investment firm known for betting against sub-prime mortgages, which have riskily earned the company more than $18 billion. His latest investment has been into wireless communications, as he tries to build a multibillion-dollar satellite network through his new company, LightSquared.

Andrew Farkas
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Island Capital Group
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He originally entered the real estate scene when he founded Insignia Financial Group in 1990, which became one of the world’s leading commercial real estate companies. He then went on to found the real estate investment firm, Island Capital Group, of which he is now chairman and CEO. In 2005, Farkas also founded Island Global Yachting, a company that owns and manages luxury-yacht marinas in top boating destinations all over the world.

Tom Ford
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Tom Ford
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: Formerly the creative director of Gucci, for which he is credited with turning the almost-bankrupt fashion house into an empire valued at $4.3 billion upon his departure. He now heads the eponymous Tom Ford fashion label, which boasts 21 freestanding stores throughout the world. Ford is famous for dressing some of Hollywood’s Hautest leading men including Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, and Johnny Depp.

Larry Gagosian
CATEGORY: Thinkers
COMPANY: Gagosian Galleries
INDUSTRY: Art
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the owner of the Gagosian Gallery chain, which has locations in NYC, London, Los Angeles, Rome, and Athens, and has become a predominant figure in the contemporary arts scene, repping the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst. In the past year, Gagosian was ranked number one in ArtReview Magazine’s annual Power 100 List and was awarded with France’s highest civil distinction, the “Legion of Honour.”

Rudy Giuliani
CATEGORY: Politicians
COMPANY: Giuliani Partners LLC
INDUSTRY: Politics
What Makes Him HAUTE: The former mayor is still the national face of New York’s post-9/11 comeback. While he didn’t make it all the way to the White House, he still acts as a political commentator for several television news shows. He’s also chairman and CEO of Giuliani Partners, a management consulting firm dedicated to helping business and political leaders with strategic issues and brand reputation.

Tony Goldman
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Goldman Properties
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Goldman Properties was established in 1968 with one employee in a 200-square-foot office in New York City. It has since grown to more than 250 employees with offices in New York, Miami, Philadelphia, and Boston. Goldman can be credited with the creation of modern day Soho, taking empty buildings and converting them into state-of-the-art offices and residences.

Carolina Herrera
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Carolina Herrera New York
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Her HAUTE: 2010 marks the ten-year anniversary of her flagship store on Madison Avenue and this luxury fashion designer is showing that she’s still going strong. In September, she was named the Mercedes-Benz Presents designer for New York’s Spring/Summer 2011 fashion week. Her most recent venture includes a newly launched fragrance: 212 VIP.

Tommy Hilfiger
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Tommy Hilfiger
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: Over the past 25 years, the eponymous Tommy Hilfiger brand has taken a vision of classic American sportswear and made it into one of the world’s most recognized lifestyle brands. Today, there are more than 1,000 Tommy Hilfiger stores worldwide, with plans to continue to expand into new markets in the coming years.

Marc Holliday
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: SL Green Realty
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s CEO and President of SL Green Realty, the largest commercial landlord company in New York City. The company currently controls 73 properties throughout the New York metro area, totaling to more than 30 million square feet. In 2009, he was ranked #35 of Forbes list of top CEO Compensations.

Carl Icahn
CATEGORY: Originators
COMPANY: Icahn Enterprises
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s chairman of Icahn Enterprises, a holding company that manages various investments. According to Forbes, Icahn’s net worth is roughly $11 billion, making him the 24th richest American and the 59th richest man in the world. Earlier this month, Icahn joined 17 other billionaires in The Giving Pledge, promising to donate the majority of his wealth to charity.