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A combination of three disciples of engineering, environmental science, and art, Architecture is an influential career. As the countries continue to grow and head towards quick urbanization, architects are more in demand than ever. The most famed architects earn their reputation based on envisioning the client’s needs, creating structural moments that can last a lifetime, and carrying a portfolio of work with successful projects. A field full of inspiration, it can elevate living and alter anybody’s mood with their visions. The power of the world’s best architects remains in their buildings that speak louder than words. From preserving historical monuments to playing with angular designs, the richest of them have mastered the art of everything.
While the annual salary of an architect is $80,000, the most celebrated architects earn ten to twenty times more than them. Holding steady reputations in their field, let’s take a look at the world’s richest architects.
Sir David Adjaye - $10 million
Ghanian-British Architect Sir David Adjaye gained popularity in the mainstream after being knighted by the Queen in 2017. He won several accolades for his environmentally conscious projects, including The National Museum Of African American History And Culture. The primary source of his $10 million income comes from designing public buildings.
Maya Lin - $12 million
An architect and sculptor, Maya Lin, knew how to push boundaries and shape a new architectural vision. As mentioned by Money INC, her projects use traditional Chinese architecture with a combination of the rural surroundings of her childhood. Having a net worth of $12 million, her most appreciated works include the Vietnamese Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C and the Civil Rights Memorial.
Kongjian Yu - $15 million
Founder and President of Turenscape Company, Kongjian Yu, has established his firm as one of the best in China, earning a $15 million net worth. Yu has been a big influence on the recreation of Chinese Urban Planning over the last two decades. Most of his projects are commissioned by the government, and some of them are the Qinhuangdao Red Ribbon, Haikou Fengxiang Park, and Quzhou Luming Park.
Bjarke Ingels - $17 million
Born in Denmark, it took Ingels several years to become a prominent architect. His consistency in his work is slowly paying off as he has earned a $17 million net worth over the years. He has worked on housing projects for VM Houses and Mountain Dwellings and runs one of the biggest firms in the market called Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
Renzo Piano - $25 million
Born in a modest family in Italy where his father was a construction worker, Renzo Piano visited the site to get hands-on experience from a young age. He has collaborated and designed several projects like Hermes Maison in Tokyo, The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Morgan Library in New York, and NEMO Museum in Amsterdam to amass a $45 million fortune, as stated by The Explorian.
Dame Zaha Hadid - $95 million
An instrumental figure in architecture, even after she died in 2016, Zaha Hadid broke the glass ceiling to compete in a field dominated by men. The Iraqi-British architect was awarded the prestigious Stirling Prize in 2010 and 2011 and was appointed as a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. Her projects had earned her a $95 million net worth, with some of her works being the London Aquatics Center and Galaxy SOHO complex in Beijing.
Santiago Calatrava - $100 million
The Spanish painter, architect, and sculptor, Calatrava, has acquired a $100 million net worth with his many talents. Known for his sculptural bridges and buildings, his successful projects are World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York, Twisting Torso Tower in Sweden, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Hunt Hill Bridge in Texas, as noted by Architectural Digest.
Moshe Safdie - $100 million
Moshe Safdie’s thesis called Habitat 67 during his Masters launched his career internationally. Habitat 67 was built in Montreal, Canada, as the first project of his company Safdie Architects, a way of re-imaging urban living. He has designed notable structures, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The National Gallery Of Canada, and Yad Vashem, bringing him a $100 million fortune.
Frank Gehry - $100 million
One of the oldest architects who is still practicing, Frank Gehry, is worth $100 million from seven decades of work in various countries, mostly Europe and The United States. According to Tuko, he is best known to redefine cityscapes with his unique designs. His projects include the Experience Music Project in Seattle and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Norman Foster - $240 million
Norman Foster remains the richest architect on the list with a $240 million net worth. He founded his firm Foster + Partners in 1967 and is known to create elegant modern buildings from steel and glass. His most notable projects include the Citic Headquarters located in Hangzhou, China, and the Swiss Tower RE in London, England. He has won awards for his design of the Hearst Tower in New York. His Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi remains his most innovative project to date.
Coming from struggling families, overcoming gender barriers, and achieving great heights with perfectly sculpted designs, these architects have had long and winding roads to achieve the success they have. They are a testament that the most unconventional ideas can become iconic and achieve astronomical success.
Sources: Money INC, The Explorian, Architectural Digest, Tuko
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