Lawrence Stroll: How a Fashion Mogul Controls Aston Martin

Most billionaires build their fortunes in technology or finance, but Lawrence Stroll took a different road — fashion licensing. Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.9 billion in 2026, much of it earned before he ever stepped into a paddock. Today, he controls both Aston Martin’s road‑car division and its Formula 1 team. Here’s how the Canadian businessman turned branded polo shirts into a motorsport empire.

Net Worth (2026): $3.9 billion (Forbes) · Age: 67 · Nationality: Canadian · Owns: Aston Martin F1 Team (executive chairman) · Fortune Source: Fashion brand licensing (Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren) · Children: Lance Stroll (F1 driver)

From Fashion Runways to the Paddock

Lawrence Stroll was born in 1959 in Montreal, Canada, into a family with a background in the garment industry. His father, Leo Stroll, owned a clothing manufacturing business, which gave Lawrence early exposure to the fashion trade. Rather than starting from scratch, Stroll took a different approach — he acquired the licensing rights to established fashion brands and managed their distribution in new markets. During the 1980s and 1990s, he built a portfolio of licensing agreements with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. His timing was impeccable; these were exactly the brands that would dominate the premium casual wear boom in North America.

By the 2000s, Stroll had accumulated significant wealth and expanded his holdings. He co-founded the company that later became Michael Kors, and he held stakes in several other luxury brands. He sold most of his fashion portfolio in the 2010s, converting his earnings into cash that could be redirected toward a new passion — motorsport. He had been a car collector and had attended Formula 1 races for years, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he made his most aggressive move. He led a consortium that invested £182 million in Aston Martin for a 20% stake, and he took on the role of executive chairman. Shortly after, he rebranded his existing Racing Point F1 team as the Aston Martin F1 Team, placing the luxury car maker’s name back on the grid for the first time since 1960.

Aston Martin Ownership Structure

Role as executive chairman

Stroll is executive chairman of Aston Martin, leading both the road‑car business and the F1 team. His leadership has focused on restructuring the company’s balance sheet and stabilizing production. He has described his role as both operational and strategic, and he has been hands-on in making key management hires.

Stake size

He does not own 100% of Aston Martin. He is part-owner and executive chairman, with an estimated one-third economic interest. His exact stake is not publicly disclosed but is a significant minority. Reports from 2026 suggest he holds about 33% of the F1 team, with additional shares in the road-car division.

Net Worth & Wealth Source

Forbes estimates his net worth at $3.9 billion as of 2026, up from $3.8 billion in earlier years. Stroll built his fortune by acquiring and licensing fashion brands: Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors. He owned or co-owned licensing rights for these brands in various regions during the 1990s and 2000s. Stroll sold most of his fashion portfolio in the 2010s to focus on motorsport.

Personal Life

Lawrence Stroll is married to Rahel Stroll. He is Canadian by nationality. Lance Stroll, his son, is a Formula 1 driver for Aston Martin, and the father-son dynamic has brought additional attention to his role.

The pattern so far: Stroll has turned a licensing fortune into a controlling stake in a struggling luxury car brand. The risk is that Aston Martin’s road-car sales have not yet recovered enough to fund a championship-winning F1 team. He is part-owner and executive chairman, with an estimated one-third economic interest.