You see the red, white, and blue flag everywhere. It’s on the chests of Ivy League students, the feet of sneakerheads, and now, it’s even draped across the turf at Anfield thanks to a massive new partnership with Liverpool FC. But if you think Tommy Hilfiger—the man—is sitting in a corner office calling every single shot, you’re about a decade and a half late to the party.
Honestly, the question of who owns Tommy Hilfiger is one of those things that sounds simple until you actually look at the paperwork. Most people assume it’s still a private family empire. Others think it’s part of some mysterious European luxury conglomerate like LVMH. Neither is true.
The reality? It’s owned by a massive, publicly traded powerhouse called PVH Corp.
The $3 Billion Handshake
Back in 2010, the fashion world shifted. PVH Corp (which used to be called Phillips-Van Heusen) wrote a check for roughly $3 billion to buy the brand from Apax Partners. At the time, it was a huge gamble. PVH already had Calvin Klein in its pocket, but adding Tommy turned them into a global juggernaut.
It worked. By the end of 2024, the brand was pulling in around $9 billion in global retail sales. That's not exactly chump change.
But wait—who owns PVH? Since it's a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PVH), the "owner" isn't just one person. It’s a mix of thousands of investors. If you have a 401(k) or a basic index fund, there’s a decent chance you technically own a tiny sliver of the Tommy Hilfiger logo yourself.
The Big Players Holding the Strings
If we’re talking about who actually has the most influence, you have to look at the institutional heavyweights. As of early 2026, the power breakdown looks something like this:
- The Vanguard Group: Usually holds the biggest slice, somewhere between 10% and 12%.
- BlackRock: Always in the mix with about 8% to 10%.
- FMR LLC (Fidelity): Holds a solid 5% to 7% stake.
Then you’ve got guys like Stefan Larsson, the CEO of PVH. He doesn't "own" the company in the way a founder does, but he’s the architect of the "PVH+ Plan." That’s the strategy currently driving the brand's push into more "desirable" lifestyle categories and high-profile sports deals.
Does Tommy Hilfiger Still Work There?
This is the part that trips people up. Yes, Tommy Hilfiger is very much alive and very much involved. He didn't just take the money and run to a private island (though he probably could have).
His official title is Principal Designer.
Think of him as the "North Star" for the brand's vibe. He provides the "guidance and inspiration" for the design process. While Lea Rytz Goldman (who became Global Brand President in 2024) and Sophia Hwang-Judiesch (President of North America) handle the grueling day-to-day business operations and P&L statements, Tommy ensures the clothes still feel like "Classic American Cool."
It’s a smart setup. You keep the face of the brand to maintain authenticity, but you let the corporate experts at PVH handle the global supply chain and the $2.29 billion quarterly revenue targets.
Why the Ownership Structure Matters in 2026
You might wonder why you should care who owns a clothing brand. Well, because PVH is public, they have to be transparent about the "why" behind the clothes you see in stores.
Recently, PVH has been aggressively buying back its own stock. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, they repurchased 7.7 million shares. When a company does this, they’re basically betting on themselves. They’re saying, "We think Tommy Hilfiger is worth more than the market realizes."
They’re also navigating some pretty choppy waters right now. In late 2025, the company reported that while revenue was up, their actual net income took a massive hit—dropping nearly 97% on a GAAP basis due to heavy trade tariffs and currency fluctuations.
When who owns Tommy Hilfiger changes from a person to a public corporation, the focus shifts. It’s not just about making a cool jacket anymore; it’s about "mitigating tariff impacts" and "optimizing the North American unlock."
The Current Leadership Power Map
To understand who is steering the ship today, keep these names in your back pocket:
- Stefan Larsson: CEO of PVH (The big boss).
- Lea Rytz Goldman: Global Brand President of Tommy Hilfiger (The brand lead).
- Tommy Hilfiger: Principal Designer (The creative soul).
- Donald Kohler: CEO of PVH Americas.
The Evolution of a Legend
The brand didn't start in a boardroom. It started in the back of a Volkswagen Beetle. In 1985, Tommy Hilfiger launched his first collection with just $150 and a dream of reinventing prep.
The ownership journey went something like this:
- 1985–2006: Founded by Tommy Hilfiger; eventually went public, then was taken private by Apax Partners.
- 2006–2010: Under the wing of Apax Partners, who helped scale the brand globally, especially in Europe.
- 2010–Present: The PVH Era. This is where the brand became a true multi-billion dollar pillar of global fashion.
What’s Next for the Brand?
The latest move—that Liverpool FC partnership—tells you everything you need to know about the current owners' mindset. They aren't just selling "preppy" clothes to Americans. They are chasing the "beautiful game" and global sports culture.
With Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai fronting campaigns in 2026, the owners are betting that the future of the brand lies at the intersection of New York heritage and global football fandom.
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If you’re looking to follow the money or understand where the brand is headed, start by keeping an eye on PVH Corp’s quarterly filings. That’s where the real story of who owns Tommy Hilfiger is written every three months. You can track their "PVH+ Plan" progress on their investor relations site to see if their bet on "brand desirability" is actually paying off in a world of rising costs and shifting tastes.
Keep an eye on the leadership transition too; with CFO Zac Coughlin departing in early 2026, the financial strategy of the brand's parent company is about to enter a new chapter.