Richest Architects In The World
Who is the richest architect in the world? Which architect makes the most money?
Introduction
An architect is a person who designs museums, office buildings, bridges, hospitals, furniture, apartments, homes and prepares plans to give to a builder. Architects need to be good at drawing and math.
The word ”Architecture” comes from the Greek ”Arkhitekton,” translating as ”chief builder.”
The average annual wage for architects in the US is currently around $90,000.
List Of The Richest Architects In The World:
#15 David Childs Net Worth – $3 Million
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David Childs is one of America’s most renowned architects whose work has profoundly impacted modern architecture throughout the United States over the past five decades.
He is known for his work on the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site in New York City, as well as numerous other projects throughout the United States, including:
- FK International Airport Arrivals Building;
- Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle;
- Worldwide Plaza 825 8th Avenue.
David Childs’ net worth is estimated at $3 million.
#14 Peter Zumthor Net Worth – $4 Million
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Peter Zumthor is a renowned Swiss architect who has made his mark in the world of architecture.
Zumthor’s work is often described as uncompromising and poetic, emphasizing materiality and craftsmanship.
His buildings explore the tactile and sensory qualities of space and materials, creating a sense of atmosphere that is both calming and inspiring.
In 2009, Zumthor was awarded the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, one of the highest honors in architecture.
Some of the projects Zumthor completed include:
- Leiser Ensemble, Leis/Vals, Graubünden;
- Lichtforum Zumtobel Staff, Zürich;
- Spittelhof housing, Biel-Benken, Basel.
Peter Zumthor’s net worth is estimated at $4 million.
#13 Tom Wright Net Worth – $5 Million
Tom Wright is a British architect best known for designing the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. The building contains over 9,000 tons of steel.
Luxury Hotel Burj Al Arab in Dubai – @Getty
In 2013, Wright co-founded a company called WKK Architects.
His commitment to sustainability and innovation has made him one of today’s most sought-after architects who continues to push boundaries within the industry while inspiring future generations of architects with his work ethic and passion for design excellence.
Tom Wright’s net worth is estimated at $5 million.
#12 Rem Koolhaas Net Worth – $6 Million
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Rem Koolhaas is a Dutch architect who studied at the Architectural Association in London.
He founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in 1975. Rem was listed on The World’s Most Influential People by Time in 2008.
Koolhaas’s work includes:
- Qatar National Library in Doha
- China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing
- Seoul National University Museum of Art in Seoul
- Kunsthal in Rotterdam.
Koolhaas is also the author of the books – ”Serpentine Gallery Pavilion” and ”Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan.”
Rem Koolhaas’s net worth is estimated at $6 million.
#11 David Chipperfield Net Worth – $7 million
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David Chipperfield has designed some of the most impressive buildings around the globe, from museums to skyscrapers.
His work has been praised for its modern minimalism and timeless elegance.
David has worked on the following:
- Kunsthaus Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland:
- Valentino, flagship store, London:
- City of Justice, Barcelona:
- BBC Pacific Quay, Glasgow:
- Toyota Auto Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.
David Chipperfield’s net worth is estimated at $7 million.
#10 Ma Yansong Net Worth – $8 Million
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Ma Yansong is a Chinese architect, designer, and founder of MAD Architects.
His unique vision for blending nature with modern design has earned him numerous awards and recognition throughout his career and made him one of the most sought-after architects today.
As the leading figure in modern Chinese architecture, Ma has dramatically contributed to promoting eco-friendly design.
Ma Yansong has designed various projects around the world, including residential buildings, museums, airports, and public parks.
Some of Yansong’s projects include:
- Ink Ice, Beijing;
- Moon Landscape, Beijing;
- National Art Museum of China, Beijing;
- Huangdu Art Center, Beijing;
- Absolute Towers, Mississauga.
Ma Yansong’s net worth is estimated at $8 million.
#9 Bjarke Ingels Net Worth – $15 Million
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Bjarke Ingels is a Danish architect who studied at Escola Tecnica Superior d’Arquitectura.
In 2005, Bjarke founded Bjarke Ingels Group. The company employs more than 500 people.
In 2010, Ingels received the European Prize for Architecture.
Bjarke is the author of Hot to Cold: An Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation, BIG, BIG: Recent Project, and Yes is More.
Some of his projects are:
- the BIG Maze in Washington D.C.
- Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art in Korea
- Copenhagen Harbour Baths.
Bjarke Ingels’ net worth is estimated at $15 million.
#8 Kongjian Yu Net Worth – $17 Million
Kongjian Yu is a Chinese landscape architect who earned a Doctor of Design Degree from The Harvard Graduate School of Design.
In 1998, Kongjian estalished his firm, Turenscape. In 2012, the company had over 600 employees.
In 2010, he received the World Architectural Festival Awards of Landscape.
He’s the author of Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Development, Regional Ecological Security patterns, Sponge City: Theory and Practice, and more.
Kongjian Yu’s net worth is estimated at $17 million.
#7 Renzo Piano Net Worth – $25 Million
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Renzo Piano is an Italian architect who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1998.
In 1980, he created Renzo Piano Building Workshop. In 2018, the company had a turnover of $15.5 million.
Some of Renzo’s projects include:
- Auditorium Paganini in Parma
- Kansai Airport Terminal in Osaka
- Central Saint Giles in London
- Genoa-Saint George Bridge in Genoa
- Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
Renzo was also involved in a development that is part of Monaco’s $2.3 billion project.
Renzo Piano’s net worth is estimated at $25 million.
#6 Frank Lloyd Wright Net Worth – $28 Million
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Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect who designed over 1,100 buildings during his lifetime.
In 1898, Frank established a studio in Oak Park, Illinois.
In 1941, Wright was awarded a Gold Medal from The Royal Institute of British Architects.
Some of Wright’s works include:
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City
- Midway Gardens, Chicago
- Tazaemon Yamamura House in Japan
- Louis Sullivan Bungalow in Ocean Springs.
He passed away on April 9, 1959, at age 91.
At the time of his death, Frank Lloyd Wright had an estimated net worth of $3 million which is equivalent to $28 million today.
#5 Zaha Hadid Net Worth – $92 Million
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Zaha Hadid, described by The Guardian as the “Queen of the curve,” was a British Iraqi architect who was the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Hadid studied at the Architectural Association in London. She later established a firm called Zaha Hadid Architects in New York.
Some of Hadid’s works include:
- Bergisel Ski Jump in Innsbruck
- Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi
- Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Baku
- the London Aquatics Centre
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.
Zaha passed away due to a heart attack at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami on March 31, 2016.
In her will, Hadid left $92 million to her family members and business partner.
#4 Santiago Calatrava Net Worth – $100 Million
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Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish architect who earned international acclaim for designing unique bridges.
In 1974, Santiago graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain.
In 1981, Calatrava founded his architecture firm in Zürich.
Some of Calatrava’s projects include:
- Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro
- the Lusitania Bridge in Mérida
- Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay in Redding
- the Puente del Alamillo in Seville
- Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee
Calatrava was paid $80 million to design the WTC Hub.
Architect Santiago Calatrava’s net worth is estimated at $100 million.
#3 Frank Gehry Net Worth – $105 Million
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Frank Gehry is a Canadian-American architect who graduated from the University of Southern California in 1954.
In 1962, Gehry founded his company, Frank O. Gehry & Associates.
In 1989, Gehry was the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Frank’s most famous designs include:
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas
- the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- the National Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
- Issey Miyake flagship store in Manhattan
- the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Lost Angeles
- Winton Guest House in Owatonna.
Frank has made a line of jewelry for Tiffany & Co.
Frank Gehry’s net worth is estimated at $105 million.
#2 Moshe Safdie Net Worth – $110 Million
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Moshe Safdie is an Israeli-Canadian-American architect who received the AIA Gold Medal.
His projects include:
- Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort in Singapore
- the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City
- Salt Lake City Public Library in Salt Lake City
- the Toronto International Airport
- Habitat 67 at Expo 67 World’s Fair, Montreal.
The development cost of Marina Bay Sands was $5.7 billion.
Moshe Safdie’s net worth is estimated at $110 million.
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#1 Norman Foster Net Worth – $225 Million
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Norman Foster is a British architect who was born in 1935 in Reddish.
He went to Burnage Grammar School for Boys in Burnage.
In 1967, Norman founded his firm called Foster Associates. In 1962, Foster earned his master’s degree from Yale University’s School of Architecture.
Some of Foster’s projects include:
- the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich
- Western Årsta Bridge in Stockholm
- Willis Faber & Dumas Head Office in Ipswich
- World Port Center in Rotterdam
- Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt
- Shanghai Bank in Hong Kong
- Marina Bay Sands in Singapore
- Chek Lap Kok International Airport
- the headquarters of Apple in Cupertino
- Torre de Collserola in Barcelona
- the New German Parliament in the Reichstag in Berlin
”Our transformation of the Reichstag is rooted in four related issues,” Foster explained in his firm’s monograph. He continued: ”The Bundestag’s significance as a democratic forum, an understanding of history, a commitment to public accessibility, and a vigorous environmental agenda.”
In 2007, Foster sold 40 percent of his company for $165 million.
Norman Foster’s net worth is estimated at $225 million.
Here’s a quick recap of the 12 highest-paid architects in the world:
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