Les Wexner Net Worth

Les Wexner has an estimated net worth of $9.3 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Les Wexner profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $4.6 billion in 2019.

Les Wexner is an American business executive known for building L Brands into a major retail company. He began in retail at his parents' clothing store, where he studied sales and inventory. In 1963, he opened The Limited with a $5,000 loan from his aunt and a matching bank loan. The store focused on fast-selling basics like shirts and pants. He later took Limited Brands public in 1969 and kept expanding through new stores and acquisitions.

His wealth came from turning The Limited into a larger retail group that included Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. The Limited reached its 100th store in 1976. In 1978, he bought Mast Industries, a move that gave the business important advantages. In 1982, he bought Victoria's Secret for $1 million when it was a small failing chain in San Francisco. In 2020, he said he would step down and sell a majority stake in Victoria's Secret for $525 million.

How Les Wexner built his wealth

Wexner made his money in retail. After reviewing what sold well at his parents' store, he saw that a narrower product mix could work better. He used that idea when he opened The Limited in 1963. The store sold moderately priced basics that moved quickly, helping bring in revenue fast. He expanded from there and took Limited Brands public in 1969, giving the business a larger base for future growth.

He later built L Brands into a retail empire that included Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and La Senza. Dealmaking was a major part of that rise. He bought Mast Industries in 1978, which helped strengthen the company against competitors. In 1982, he bought Victoria's Secret for $1 million, when it was still a small struggling lingerie chain. In 2020, he announced that he would step down and sell a majority stake in Victoria's Secret for $525 million.

Forbes net worth update

Forbes has tracked Wexner's fortune for years in fashion and retail. Its estimate was $4.6 billion in 2019 and $4 billion in 2020. It then rose to $6.1 billion in 2021, before shifting to $5.8 billion in 2022 and $6 billion in 2023. During that period, he was also changing his role at the company and announced a deal involving Victoria's Secret.

The later Forbes figures moved higher. Forbes listed him at $6 billion in 2024, then $7.9 billion in 2025 and $8.8 billion in 2026. As of October 20, 2026, Forbes' real-time billionaires tracker put him at $9.3 billion. That estimate is tied to the retail business he built over time, especially the companies that grew from The Limited and became central parts of L Brands.