Haute 100: New York City

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

Edward Lampert
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: Sears Holdings Corporation, ESL Investments
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the chairman of Sears Holdings Corporation, which includes Sears, Kenmore, Lands End, and Kmart (for which he helped to rebuild after bankruptcy). He’s also the founder, chairman, and CEO of ESL Investments, a private investment company that Lampert started at the ripe age of 25. In 2010 he was ranked #101 in Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans.

Kenneth Langone
CATEGORY: Philanthropists
COMPANY: Home Depot
INDUSTRY: Finance
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the co-founder of Home Depot and the former director of the New York Stock Exchange. He’s also an active philanthropist, contributing millions of dollars to various charities that include the Ronald McDonald House, the Robin Hood Foundation, and New York University. Both the NYU Langone Medical Center (of which he is chairman) and the Langone Program at NYU’s Stern School of Business are named after him.

Leonard and Ronald Lauder
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Estée Lauder
INDUSTRY: Beauty
What Makes Them HAUTE: Born and raised on the Upper East Side, brothers Leonard and Ronald took their mother’s face cream concoction made in her kitchen and turned it into one of the nation’s largest beauty conglomerates. Estée Lauder is the parent company for some of the nation’s top cosmetics brands including Clinique, MAC, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, and La Mer. Both brothers make Forbes’ list of World Billionaires.

Ralph Lauren
CATEGORY: Designers
COMPANY: Ralph Lauren
INDUSTRY: Fashion
What Makes Him HAUTE: This ambitious fashion designer and brilliant businessman, most notable for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing line, stated in high school that he wanted to be a millionaire. As his current estimated net worth is $4.6 billion, he has succeeded his goal in spades with no sign of stopping now. The company is continuing to expand internationally, recently opening up stores in Chile, Korea, and Malaysia.

The LeFrak Family
CATEGORY: Billionaires
COMPANY: The LeFrak Organization
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Them HAUTE: The LeFrak Organization was founded back in 1901 by the late Harry LeFrak. His son Samuel helped to grow the company. specifically with the development of LeFrak City back in 1963, a five million-square-foot residential complex in Queens. Richard, Samuel’s son, is now the firm’s chairman and CEO, while Richard’s two sons, Harrison and James, are also top executives. Over time, the LeFrak Organization has grown into one of the world’s leading building firms, controlling some 70,000 apartments in the New York metro area alone, including Newport, N.J., a $3 billion mini-city boasting 16 million square feet of commercial, residential, and retail space. The family was ranked #62 in Forbes 400 Richest Americans, with an estimated net worth of $4.3 billion.

The London Family
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: London Jewelers
INDUSTRY: Jewelry
What Makes Them HAUTE: In 2011, the family behind the legendary London Jewelers will celebrate 85 years in business. They continue to uphold founder Charles London’s reputation for exceptional customer service and top-of-the-line merchandise. Three generations are accounted for daily at their six New York locations. Mark (London’s grandson) is CEO and his wife Candy is President. Their daughter, Randi, is responsible for aspects of the business such as designing and buying jewelry and creative business planning.  She is also brand manager for Van Cleef & Arpels. Their son Scott trained as a gemologist, which led him to take on the role of managing their diamond buying. Scott’s wife Jessica also joined the family business, acting as brand manager for prestigious brands like David Yurman. The store maintains solid partnerships with more than 60 luxury brands. London Jewelers is also committed to giving back to the community in supporting more than 100 different charities every year.

Howard Lorber
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Vector Group Limited
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: He’s the president and CEO of the holding company Vector Group, and chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman, a subsidiary of Vector and the largest residential real estate brokerage in New York, with the top four out of close to 2,000 offices in the entire Prudential Network. In 2010, Vector Group acquired part of Borders Group Inc. for $25 million, adding Lorber to their Board of Directors.

Susan Lyne
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: Gilt Groupe
INDUSTRY: Internet Commerce
What Makes Her HAUTE: She’s the founder and chairman of the online luxury fashion retailer, Gilt Groupe. Through its exclusive, discounted online sales events, Gilt Groupe single-handedly changed how people shop. The company has seen exponential growth in the past year, branching out from fashion to other luxury goods sectors, and has launched the city-specific deal website, Gilt City.

William Mack
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurs
COMPANY: AREA Property Partners
INDUSTRY: Real Estate
What Makes Him HAUTE: Mack is a third generation real estate tycoon best known for co-developing the Time Warner Center. He is founder and chairman of AREA Property Partners (formerly known as Apollo Real Estate Advisors), a company that has invested more than $11 billion in more than 500 transactions since its inception. Mack also serves as chair of real estate investment trust Mack-Cali Realty, as a board member of the Regional Advisory Board of JP Morgan Chase, and is chairman of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Abby & Eli Manning
CATEGORY: Power Couples
COMPANY: New York Giants
INDUSTRY: Sports
What Makes Them HAUTE: This Manning brother was destined to be a quarterback; he’s the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the younger brother of Peyton Manning, though Eli created his own legacy as well. Now in his seventh season as the Giants’ star quarterback, he is the sixth QB in history to start 100 straight games and just completed his 30th touchdown of the season.  His wife Abby and he were college sweethearts; the couple is expecting their first baby this spring.