Age, Biography, and Wiki
Diane von Fürstenberg was born as Diane Simone Michele Halfin on December 31, 1946, in Brussels, Belgium. She rose to prominence not only due to her fashion prowess but also through her marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg in 1969, which granted her the title and name she uses today. Her early life was influenced by her mother, a survivor of Auschwitz, and her international upbringing.
| Occupation | Fashion Designers |
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| Date of Birth | 31 December 1946 |
| Age | 78 Years |
| Birth Place | Brussels, Belgium |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Belgium |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Specific details about Diane von Fürstenberg's height, weight, and measurements are not widely available in the public domain.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Diane von Fürstenberg is married to Barry Diller, a media and business mogul, whom she wed in 2001. Despite Diller's openness about his sexuality, their relationship has been strong and supportive, with Diller playing a significant role in her business ventures.
Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin; 31 December 1946) is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon von Fürstenberg. Following their separation in 1972 and divorce in 1983, she has continued to use his family name.
Her father, Bessarabian-born Leon (Lipa) Halfin, migrated to Belgium in 1929 from Chişinău, Kingdom of Romania (later Moldova) and later sought refuge from the Nazis in Switzerland. Her mother was Greek-born Liliane Nahmias, from Thessaloniki, a Holocaust survivor, who was captured by the Nazis while she was a member of the Resistance during World War II. Nahmias was taken to Auschwitz, then transferred to Ravensbrück, where she was liberated 18 months before Fürstenburg's birth. Weighing only 49 pounds, her mother was told by doctors that she should not have children, that she could die in childbirth, and that her baby would not be normal. Fürstenberg has spoken broadly about her mother's influence in her life, crediting her with teaching her that "fear is not an option."
A year after marrying, Fürstenberg began designing women's clothes: "The minute I knew I was about to be Egon's wife, I decided to have a career. I wanted to be someone of my own, and not just a plain little girl who got married beyond her desserts." After the Fürstenbergs separated in 1973, Egon also became a fashion designer. After moving to New York, she met high-profile Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, who declared her designs "absolutely smashing". She had her name listed on the fashion calendar for New York Fashion Week, and so her business was created. She moved into an estate in Connecticut she named, and has lived there since.
At university, when she was 18, she met Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, the elder son of Prince Tassilo zu Fürstenberg, a German Roman Catholic prince, and his first wife, Clara Agnelli, an heiress to the Fiat automotive fortune and member of the Italian nobility. Married in 1969, the couple had two children, Alexander and Tatiana. She is grandmother of five, including Talita von Fürstenberg.
Fürstenberg owns the super-yacht Eos with her husband. It features a figurehead of von Fürstenberg sculpted by artist Anh Duong. She reportedly swims in the sea every morning for two hours, and hikes in the afternoons. She has travelled the world and claims to be "the world's lightest packer and always ready to go".
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| Husband | Prince Egon von Fürstenberg (m. 1969-1983) Barry Diller (m. 2001) |
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Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Diane von Fürstenberg's net worth is estimated to be $1.2 billion. Her wealth is primarily attributed to her successful fashion brand, Diane von Furstenberg (DvF), which has expanded globally.
Career, Business, and Investments
Diane von Fürstenberg's career in fashion began to flourish in the 1970s with the introduction of her revolutionary wrap dress. Although she faced financial challenges in the 1980s, she successfully revived her brand in the 1990s. Her company, DvF, operates in over 70 countries and has 45 standalone stores worldwide. She served as the chairwoman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) from 2006 to 2019.
Her fashion company, Diane von Furstenberg (DvF), is available in over 70 countries and 45 free-standing shops worldwide, with the company's headquarters and flagship boutique located in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.
She is the past chairwoman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a position she held from 2006 to 2019; in 2014 was listed as the 68th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes; and in 2015 was included in the Time 100, as an icon, by Time magazine. In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the New School. In 2019, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
In 1974, she introduced the knitted jersey "wrap dress", which became an iconic piece in women's fashion; it is included in the collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Soon after the launch, 25,000 dresses were selling each week; one million dresses had been sold by 1976, according to Forbes. After the success of the wrap dress, von Fürstenberg was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1976. The accompanying article declared her "the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel." She launched a cosmetic line and her first fragrance, "Tatiana", named after her daughter. The New York Times reported that by 1979 the annual retail sales for the company were $150 million (equivalent to $ million in ).
In 1985, von Fürstenberg moved to Paris, where she founded Salvy, a French-language publishing house. She started a number of other businesses, including a line of cosmetics and a home-shopping business, which she launched in 1991. In 1992, von Fürstenberg sold $1.2 million (equivalent to $ million in ) of her Silk Assets collection in two hours on QVC. She credits the success with giving her the confidence to relaunch her company.
Fürstenberg relaunched her company in 1997, and reintroduced the wrap dress, which gained popularity with a new generation of women. Initially, the relaunch was a failure but, with the appointment of Paula Sutter as president of the brand, it was seemingly restored to its heyday of the mid-seventies. In 1998, she published her business memoir, Diane: A Signature Life. In 2004, she introduced the DVF by H. Stern fine jewelry collection, and launched scarves and beachwear. In 2006, she was elected president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a position she held until 2019. In 2008, she received a star on Seventh Avenue's Fashion Walk of Fame.
Fürstenberg sits on the board of Vital Voices, a women's leadership organization, and served as one of the project chairs for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's review of the future of NYC's Fashion industry, prepared by New York City Economic Development Corporation.
In 2024, Disney+ released Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge a feature-length biographical documentary of von Furstenberg's life and business. The documentary features interviews with Oprah, Hillary Clinton, Marc Jacobs and other notable artists and designers. The documentary received positive reviews.
Social Network
Diane von Fürstenberg maintains a strong presence on social media platforms, often engaging with her audience through fashion updates and philanthropic endeavors.
Education
Diane von Fürstenberg attended boarding school in Oxfordshire, England, and later studied at universities in Madrid and Geneva. Her education and international upbringing have contributed to her global perspective and influence in the fashion industry.
Overall, Diane von Fürstenberg's success is a testament to her innovative designs, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to empowering women through both fashion and philanthropy.
Fürstenberg attended a boarding school in Oxfordshire. She studied at Complutense University of Madrid before transferring to the University of Geneva to study economics. She then moved to Paris and worked as an assistant to fashion photographer's agent Albert Koski. She left Paris for Italy to apprentice with the textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti in his factory, where she learned about cut, color and fabric. It was here that she designed and produced her first silk jersey dresses.
Fürstenberg is a director of the Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which provides support to nonprofit organizations in the areas of community building, education, human rights, arts, health and the environment. In 2010, the foundation created The DVF Awards, presented annually to four women who display leadership, strength and courage in their commitment to women's causes. In 2011, the foundation made a $20 million commitment to the High Line.
