Ben Gorham Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Wife, Girlfriend, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Business, Nationality, Family

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Ben Gorham is the founder and creative director of Byredo, a European luxury brand best known for its avant-garde perfumes, leather goods, and accessories. Born in Sweden to an Indian mother and a Canadian father, he grew up with a multicultural background that spanned Toronto, New York, and Stockholm. His entry into the beauty industry was famously unconventional; he is often described as an “outsider” in the fragrance world, standing 6’5″, heavily tattooed, and possessing no formal training in perfumery.

Before entering the world of luxury goods, Gorham was a professional athlete. He played competitive basketball in high school in New York and college in Canada, eventually playing professionally in Europe. However, his athletic career was cut short due to bureaucratic visa issues, forcing him to retire early. He subsequently enrolled in art school in Stockholm, initially intending to become a painter or sculptor, but his trajectory changed after a chance meeting with perfumer Pierre Wulff.

Gorham became fascinated by the strong link between scent and memory, realizing he could “paint” with fragrance rather than acrylics. This inspiration led him to found Byredo in 2006. He relied on renowned perfumers like Olivia Giacobetti and Jérôme Epinette to translate his specific memories and emotions into actual scent compositions. For example, many of his early scents were inspired by his mother’s hometown in India or specific childhood memories, packaged in a now-iconic, minimalist monochrome style.

Under his leadership, Byredo has expanded beyond fragrance into a full lifestyle brand, including makeup, home goods, and accessories. Gorham is also known for his collaborative spirit, having partnered with major industry names such as Virgil Abloh (Off-White), IKEA, and makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench. He remains a prominent figure in fashion and design, celebrated for bridging the gap between artistic expression and commercial luxury.

In late 2025, Gorham became the center of fresh media attention due to a rumored relationship with supermodel Kendall Jenner. The two were photographed together on several occasions, including casual outings in West Hollywood and shopping trips in Paris, which sparked widespread speculation about a romance.

Profile Summary

Feature	Details
Full Name	Ben Gorham
Date of Birth	July 5, 1977
Age	48 (as of 2025)
Birthplace	Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Ethnicity	Mixed (Indian and French-Canadian/Scottish)
Profession	Entrepreneur, Creative Director, Former Basketball Player
Known For	Founder of Byredo
Education	Ryerson University, Stockholm Art School
Height	6’5″ (1.96 m)
Children	2 Daughters (Inez and Anouk)

Age, Nationality, and Ethnicity

Born on July 5, 1977, in Sweden, Ben Gorham is 48 years old as of 2025. He holds Swedish nationality but is a true citizen of the world, having divided his formative years between Europe and North America. His unique perspective on culture and scent is deeply rooted in his mixed ethnicity. He was born to an Indian mother from Chembur, Mumbai, and a Canadian father of Scottish and French-Canadian descent.

Early Life and Parents

Gorham’s childhood was transient and culturally rich. He was born in Sweden but moved frequently. When he was around six or seven years old, his father left the family, leaving him to be raised primarily by his mother and sister. The family moved from Sweden to Toronto, Canada, and later spent significant time in New York City, where Gorham finished high school.

Despite the absence of his father, Gorham’s mother ensured he remained connected to his Indian roots. He frequently traveled to Mumbai to visit his grandmother and extended family in Chembur.

Education and Basketball Career

Before he was a creative director, Ben Gorham was an athlete. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, he was a natural talent on the basketball court.

High School and Ryerson University

Gorham played competitive basketball during his high school years in New York. He continued his athletic career at the collegiate level in Canada, attending Ryerson University in Toronto. During his time at Ryerson, he made a significant impact, earning the title of Rookie of the Year in the 1998-99 season for the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division. Academically, his path was winding; he initially studied business, switched to politics, and later explored interior design, struggling to find a discipline that captivated him as much as sports did.

Professional Stint in Europe

Determined to pursue basketball professionally, Gorham left university to play in Europe. He played professionally for clubs in countries including Germany and Italy. However, his career was abruptly cut short not by injury, but by bureaucracy. Due to complications with his visa and paperwork, he was unable to continue playing professionally in Europe. At the age of 25, forced to retire from the sport that had defined his identity, he returned to Stockholm to figure out his next move.

The Pivot: From Athletics to Fine Arts

Returning to Sweden with his athletic dreams dashed, Gorham sought a new outlet for his energy. He enrolled in the Stockholm Art School to study fine arts, initially focusing on painting and sculpture. It was during this period that he experienced a serendipitous meeting that changed the trajectory of his life.

He met Pierre Wulff, a renowned Swedish perfumer, at a dinner party. Gorham was fascinated by Wulff’s work and the realization that scent could be used to evoke specific memories and emotions more fast and viscerally than visual art. Although Gorham had no formal training in chemistry or perfumery, he became obsessed with the idea of translating his memories—like the smell of his father or the incense of his mother’s hometown—into bottled fragrances.

The Birth of Byredo (2006-Present)

In 2006, at the age of 31, Ben Gorham founded Byredo. The name is a portmanteau of “By Redolence,” referencing the Old English word for “sweet-smelling.”

Founding Philosophy and Style

Gorham’s lack of technical training became his greatest asset. Instead of being bound by the traditional rules of the perfume industry, he approached fragrance creation as an art director. He would brief world-class perfumers like Olivia Giacobetti and Jérôme Epinette with images, feelings, and specific memories, challenging them to create scents that told a story. The brand’s aesthetic was starkly different from the ornate, gendered marketing typical of the 2000s; Byredo featured simple, monochrome packaging, heavy magnetic caps, and gender-neutral scents.

Key Fragrances and Milestones

Green (2006): The first fragrance launched, described by Gorham as embodying the smell of his father (a mix of green beans and sweat/musk).
Gypsy Water: Became one of the brand’s best-sellers, inspired by the Romani lifestyle and standing as an ode to beauty and nomadism.
Bal d’Afrique: Another cult favorite, inspired by Paris in the late 1920s and its infatuation with African culture, blending neroli, African marigold, and Moroccan cedarwood.
Mojave Ghost: A tribute to the soulful beauty of the Mojave Desert.
Makeup & Jewelry: In October 2020, Byredo launched a makeup line in collaboration with makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, featuring sculptural packaging. In November 2023, the brand expanded into high jewelry with the collection “Virasaat” (meaning “heritage” in Hindi), paying homage to Gorham’s Indian roots.

Artistic Collaborations

Gorham’s strategy involved frequent “cross-pollination” with other creatives, cementing Byredo’s status as a cool, cultural brand.

Off-White (Virgil Abloh): They collaborated on a project called “Elevator Music,” exploring the relationship between scent and sound.
IKEA: In 2020, Gorham partnered with the Swedish furniture giant to release the “Osynlig” collection of affordable luxury candles.
Travis Scott: A collaboration on the “Space Rage” scent, which sold out almost instantly.
M/M (Paris): Long-term creative partners who helped shape the visual identity of the brand.

Acquisition and Departure

The immense success of Byredo attracted major investors early on.

2013: Gorham sold a majority stake to Manzanita Capital, a London-based investment firm that also owns Diptyque and Space NK. This investment helped scale the brand globally.
2022: The Spanish fashion and beauty conglomerate Puig acquired a majority stake in Byredo. The deal reportedly valued the brand at over €1 billion ($1.06 billion).
2025 Departure: In June 2025, it was confirmed that Ben Gorham would be stepping down from his role at Byredo, finalizing the transition to Puig’s leadership. His exit marks the conclusion of a 19-year tenure where he transformed a personal art project into a billion-dollar legacy.

Net Worth

While Ben Gorham’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, it is estimated to be in the multimillions. The 2022 sale of Byredo to Puig for approximately €1 billion suggests a massive financial windfall for Gorham, who retained a significant stake and leadership role until 2025. Prior to the Puig acquisition, the brand’s rapid growth and sale to Manzanita Capital had already established him as a wealthy entrepreneur. His portfolio also includes real estate and investments in other creative ventures.

Personal Life and Relationships

Ben Gorham has historically kept his private life out of the tabloids, cultivating an aura of mystery that aligns with his brand.

Wife and Children

Gorham was in a long-term relationship (often referred to as marriage in press) with Natasha, a woman he met in Sweden. They have two daughters together, Inez and Anouk. The family lived in a converted factory in Stockholm, and Gorham often spoke in interviews about the balance between his intense travel schedule and being a father.

Recent Relationship Rumors (2025)

In late 2025, following his announced departure from Byredo, Gorham became the subject of high-profile relationship rumors. He was spotted on multiple occasions with supermodel Kendall Jenner. The pair were photographed together in West Hollywood and Paris, sparking speculation of a romance. Media outlets dubbed them a “Quiet Luxury Alliance,” noting their shared interests in fashion and design. While neither party officially confirmed a romantic relationship, the sightings fueled chatter about a new chapter in Gorham’s personal life following his exit from his company.

Conclusion

Ben Gorham’s biography is a testament to the power of reinvention. He is the rare creative who succeeded by ignoring the established rules of his industry. By pivoting from the discipline of professional basketball to the abstract world of fine art and fragrance, he created a brand that resonated with a generation seeking authenticity and storytelling over traditional luxury status symbols.

FAQs

Is Ben Gorham a trained perfumer?

No, Ben Gorham is not a classically trained perfumer. He acts as a Creative Director, briefing trained perfumers like Jérôme Epinette and Olivia Giacobetti to create scents based on his memories and concepts.

What is Ben Gorham’s ethnicity?

Ben Gorham is of mixed ethnicity. He has an Indian mother and a Canadian father of Scottish and French-Canadian heritage.

Why did Ben Gorham quit basketball?

He was forced to quit professional basketball in his mid-20s due to visa and paperwork issues that prevented him from continuing his career in Europe.

When did Ben Gorham sell Byredo?

He sold a majority stake to Manzanita Capital in 2013 and then sold the company to Puig in May 2022.

How tall is Ben Gorham?

Ben Gorham is approximately 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall.

Who is Ben Gorham dating now?

As of late 2025, there are widespread rumors connecting Ben Gorham to model Kendall Jenner, following several public sightings in Los Angeles and Paris.