Leon Max

Leon Max (born Leonid Maksovich Rodovinsky; Russian: Леонид Максович Родовинский; 12 February 1954) is a Russian-American fashion designer and retailer.

Leon Max
Born
Leonid Maksovich Rodovinsky[1]

(1954-02-12) 12 February 1954
Leningrad, Soviet Union
CitizenshipUnited States
OccupationFashion designer
Known forFounder of Max Studio upmarket fashion retail chain
Net worth £410 million (Sunday Times Rich List 2020)
Spouse(s)
Yana Boyko
(
m. 2014)
Websitemaxstudio.com

Early life

Max was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg),[2] in 1954.[3] He then sought political asylum to Vienna on his way to Israel. He later enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1986, at which time he legally changed his name to Leon Max.[4]

Career

He worked as a personal trainer in New York. He then worked for the New York fashion house Tahari, and then Los Angeles-based Bis, a women’s sportswear firm.

He founded Max Studio in 1979.[5] An upmarket fashion chain, Max Studio sells through department stores. It also has 46 of its own retail stores in the U.S. and another 50 in the Far East.

In July 2012, he received an honorary degree from the University of Northampton.[6]

Personal life

He was divorced twice. His second wife was Ame Austin, an American model and stylist. In 2014, he married Yana Boyko, a Ukrainian model.[7]

In 2005, he purchased Easton Neston in Northamptonshire, England from Lord Hesketh.[2][8][5] He converted the 10,000 sq ft of the fire damaged Wren wing of the house, plus the out buildings which were the home of defunct Formula One team Hesketh Racing into a design studio. The interior design was done by Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill.[5] In July 2011, a party was thrown at Easton Neston to celebrate the completion of its renovation.[9] It was hosted by Richard Dennen, Mary Charteris and Josephine de La Baume.[9]

In 2010, he purchased a house formerly owned by Madonna in the Hollywood Hills, near the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California.[10]

According to The Sunday Times in 2020, Max has a net worth of £410 million.[11]

References
  1. "Русские, скупающие Британию по кускам". 11 March 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  2. Nina dos Santos, Irene Chapple, Russian tycoon to English country gent: Leon Max and his stately home, CNN, 3 February 2013
  3. "Sunday Times Rich List 2014 (age 60)". 18 May 2014.
  4. Leonid Maxovich Rodovinski; The National Archives at Riverside, California, USA; Petitions for Naturalization, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles), 1940-1991.
  5. Mitchell Owens, Easton Neston Revived, Architectural Digest, May 2012
  6. University awards honorary degree to fashion designer Leon Max, Northampton Chronicle and Echo, 20 July 2012
  7. Leon and Yana Max's wedding, Tatler, 14 October 2014
  8. Yori Yanover, Designer Leon Max Is Buying Up Britain, The Jewish Press, March 11, 2012
  9. Julia Neel, Leon Max Party, Vogue, 26 July 2011
  10. Juliet Chung, Candace Jackson, Max Studio Designer Buys Former Madonna Casa, The Wall Street Journal, September 17, 2010
  11. Times, The Sunday. "Rich List 2020: profiles 304-399=, featuring Simon Cowell and Sir Elton John". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
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