Who Are The Richest Architects In The World As Of 2021?

Are you looking for the list of the Richest Architects In The World As Of 2021? If yes, then this informative article is for you. You will be given detailed information about the Richest Architects In The World As At 2021?

Architecture remains the most influential profession, especially in safeguarding human history. The rapid urbanisation and need to create better cities has created a new class of the richest architects scattered across the world. Interestingly, most of them have started design firms giving more talented designers a chance to get into the rich club.

Richest Architects In The World

Architecture can instinctively make you turn left or right when entering a space or building. The brains behind the magnificent structures are worth millions of dollars. Here are the 15 richest architects and their net worth:

1. Norman Foster – $240 Million

Norman is the wealthiest architect of all time. Norman Foster net worth of $240 million (£170 million) is mainly from his high-budget projects in Europe and the US. For example, Foster + Partners designed the Citic Bank Headquarters (in Hangzhou, China) and Swiss Tower RE (in London, England).

He has also worked in award-winning designs such as Hearst Tower in New York, United States. However, his Zayed National Museum design in Abu Dhabi is arguably his most innovative project to date.

2. Frank Gehry – $100 Million

Frank Gehry is the oldest architect still practising. The Canadian-American architect has also redefined modern cityscapes, especially in North America, thanks to his unique approach to design. His projects, such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and the Experience Music Project in Seattle, have redefined modern design.

The 92-year-old, as of 2021, has an estimated net worth of $100 million. Frank has accumulated his wealth mainly from his seven decades of design in different countries, mainly in Europe and North America.

3. Zaha Hadid – $95 Million

Zaha Hadid was an architect and designer. Even though she died in 2016, Zaha is still instrumental in the architectural world, especially because she broke the glass ceiling regarding what women can achieve. Her company, Zaha Hadid Architects, is still operational and still one of the top 10 firms in the world.

Zaha Hadid net worth when she passed away in 2016 was $95 million. Since she did not have children or a husband, she dictated the wealth to be shared among the family members and company.

4. Renzo Piano – $20 Million

Renzo Piano is an Italian engineer and architect. Born in 1937, Renzo has designed many iconic buildings such as Maison Hermes in Tokyo and the popular Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He also collaborated in designing Morgan Library in New York City and the NEMO museum in Amsterdam.

Thanks to his experience and talent, he is a wealthy architect. Celebrity Net Worth estimates Renzo Piano net worth to be $20 million. Besides architecture work, Renzo is a consultant. Thanks to his passion for city planning, governments have worked with Renzo on different projects.

5. Bjarke Ingels – $17 Million

Bjarke Ingels is an architect and designer from Denmark. Even though it took Ingels years to make a name in the architectural space, his consistency has started paying off. Idols Net Worth estimates his net worth to be $17 million.

The Danish architect has worked on significant VM Houses and Mountain Dwellings projects. He also runs Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), one of the biggest firms in the current market.

6. Kongjian Yu – $15 Million

Kongjian Yu is the founder and president of Turenscape company, one of China’s most prominent architectural firms. The ecological urbanist and urban planner has been part of many projects that have redefined China’s urban planning in the last two decades.

The Chinese architect has a net worth of $15 million as of 2021. While most of his income is from doing models for different firms and governments, Kongjian Yu is a professor in China’s most prominent graduate school, Peking University.

7. Maya Lin – $12 Million

Maya Lin is an American architect famous for designing historical monuments and buildings. For instance, she developed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a student at Yale University. Since then, Maya has worked on other projects such as the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama.

Besides commissioned projects, she has other revenue streams. For example, her documentary, Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision, is a significant revenue source for the architect.

8. Sir David Adjaye – $10 Million

Sir David Adjaye is a Ghanaian-British designer and architect. Even though he became more popular after being knighted by the queen in 2017, Adjaye has won many awards through his community-conscious projects such as The National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The 55-year-old designer has a net worth of $10 million. His primary source of income is designing different public buildings across the world. Adjaye also gives talks to various conferences across the globe.

9. Yansong Ma – $10 Million

Yansong Ma is the designer behind the breathtaking Ordos Museum in China and the Absolute Towers in Ontario. Even though he was born and raised in Beijing, China, Yansong has been an influential designer in the western world.

Yansong is one of the richest Chinese architects with a net worth of $10 million. Besides earning from his design works, Yansong Ma is also a consultant. He has also been a visiting professor to different universities.

10. Emilio Tuñón – $8 Million

Emilio Tuñón is a profesor and architect from Spain. The ETSAM School of Architecture graduate has worked on many projects. Emilio’s most significant project was designing Pedro Barrie de la Maza in 2005.

The talented architect has a net worth of $8 million. But he has different revenue streams. For example, Emilio is a visiting professor. However, his primary source of wealth is commissioned projects, primarily through his company, Mansilla + Tuñón Architects.

11. Jeanne Gang – $5 Million

Jeanne Gang is one of New York’s most influential designers, thanks to her portfolio. The architect has designed many buildings, including the American Museum of Natural History. She has also worked with New York’s super-rich through her company, Studio Gang, to create projects such as Aqua Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Jeanne has a net worth of $5 million. Even though most of her projects are through Studio Gang, she is the founder and the largest shareholder. Besides design and architectural work, she speaks to different platforms, especially women in design and architecture.

12. Rem Koolhaas – $5 Million

Rem Koolhaas is a popular urbanist, architectural theorist, and practicing architect. Dutch architecture is famous for gravity-defying structures. For example, he designed the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (in Moscow). Koolhaas was also the brain behind the CCTV headquarters in Beijing.

Thanks to his high-profile jobs, Koolhaas is one of the richest architects in the world. He has a net worth of $5 million. Besides designing, he is a professor at Harvard University. The talented architect is also a speaker in different urban planning platforms, thanks to his revolutionary approach to cityscapes.

13. Hafeez Sorab Contractor – $5 Million

Hafeez Sorab Contractor is an Indian designer, urban planner and architect. Through his company, he has redefined India’s urban landscape through his unique approach to design, especially in populated Indian cities such as New Delhi.

Hafeez Sorab Contractor is the richest architect in India. According to Celebrity NetWorth Info, the design has a net worth of $5 million. Unlike most prominent designers who are also professors, Hafeez’s primary source of wealth is through commissioned projects.

14. Kengo Kuma – $5 Million

Kengo Kuma is a designer and a talented architect. Besides his extensive resume of designing buildings worldwide, he was commissioned to design the Japan National Stadium. Also, through his firm, he created the popular Taikoo Li Sanlitun in Beijing, China.

Kengo’s net worth is around $5 million. The talented designer has two primary sources of income. First, he is a professor at the University of Tokyo. Second, Kengo’s design works contribute significantly to his worth.

15. Santiago Calatrava – $1.4 Million

Santiago Calatrava is a painter, sculptor, and architect. His most significant project is the World Trade Center, famous for its futuristic train station. The 69-year-old, as of 2021, has also designed the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Although Fast Company nicknamed him the “world’s most hated architect,” the two projects have redefined American architecture in the modern era.

Interestingly, he is one of the few professionals that tours less often for work as a speaker. Instead, sculpting is another primary source of income.

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