Richard Mille Biography: Age, Net Worth, Children, Partner, Wife, Height, Parents

Biography

Richard Mille is a celebrated French luxury watchmaker and entrepreneur born in 1951 in Draguignan, France.

He founded the eponymous Richard Mille brand in 2001, renowned for its innovative, high-performance timepieces that combine cutting-edge materials, including titanium, carbon fibre, and sapphire, with avant-garde design.

Before launching his brand, Mille held executive roles at Mauboussin and worked with the Finhor Group, gaining deep expertise in watchmaking. His watches, often priced in the hundreds of thousands, are favored by celebrities and athletes for their technical sophistication and bold aesthetics.

Mille’s philosophy emphasizes extreme precision, durability, and pushing the boundaries of horological engineering.

French industrialist
Richard Mille
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Richard Mille
Born:	13 February 1951 (age 74 years old)
Place of Birth:	Draguignan, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France
Nationality:	French
Education:	Institut Universitaire de Technologie
Height:	N/A
Parents:	Jean-Pierre Mille, Marie-Claire Dubois
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Not Married
Girlfriend • Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Luxury Watchmaker• Entrepreneur
Net Worth:	$1 million-$2 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Richard Mille, the visionary founder of the luxury watch brand that bears his name, was born on February 13, 1951, in Draguignan, a picturesque town in the Var region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France.

Of French ethnicity, he was raised in a Catholic household by his parents, Jean-Pierre Mille and Marie-Claire Dubois. While he has maintained a private personal life, details about his siblings remain undisclosed, as Mille has consistently chosen to keep the spotlight on his professional achievements in the luxury watchmaking industry.

At the age of 20, Mille moved to the United Kingdom for a year to study English and immerse himself in Shakespearean literature, reflecting his early curiosity for culture and intellectual exploration.

He later pursued higher education at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) in Besançon, France, where he earned a degree in marketing in 1974. Unlike many figures in horology who come from technical or engineering backgrounds, Mille’s expertise in marketing and business strategy played a crucial role in shaping his disruptive approach to luxury watch branding.

Mille began his career in 1974 as an export manager at Finhor, a French watch company located in Villers-le-Lac. This entry-level position introduced him to the inner workings of the commercial side of the watch industry.

In 1981, Finhor was acquired by Matra, allowing Mille to gain broader exposure within the growing European watch market. His early experiences in export and marketing laid the groundwork for his innovative vision, which would eventually redefine modern haute horlogerie.

In 2001, after decades of industry experience, Richard Mille launched his eponymous brand, combining advanced engineering, cutting-edge materials, and a bold design philosophy. Richard Mille watches are synonymous with luxury, performance, and exclusivity and are worn by elite athletes, celebrities, and collectors worldwide.

Career

Richard Mille’s career in the watch industry began in 1974, when he joined Finhor, a French watchmaking company in Villers-le-Lac, as an export manager. Armed with a marketing degree from the Institut Universitaire de Technologie in Besançon, Mille quickly demonstrated his ability to navigate the commercial and strategic side of horology.

Following Finhor’s acquisition by Matra in 1981, Mille advanced to a senior position, eventually overseeing the watch division at Matra Horlogerie. His tenure refined his understanding of the industry’s business dynamics and introduced him to the technical intricacies of watchmaking.

In the early 1990s, Mille took a pivotal step by joining Mauboussin, a prestigious French jewelry house, as the head of its watch and jewelry division. There, he played a key role in developing Mauboussin’s first watch collection in collaboration with Audemars Piguet. This experience deepened his exposure to high-end Swiss watchmaking and strengthened industry relationships that would prove vital to his future ventures.

In 2001, Richard Mille launched his own brand, Richard Mille SA, alongside business partner Dominique Guenat, with technical backing from Audemars Piguet Renaud et Papi. The brand debuted with the RM 001 Tourbillon, a groundbreaking timepiece that embodied Mille’s bold vision: combining avant-garde design, advanced materials like titanium and carbon fiber, and precision engineering inspired by Formula 1 and aerospace technology.

Mille‘s approach revolutionized the concept of luxury timepieces, emphasizing ultra-lightweight construction, shock resistance, and complex mechanics. His watches became synonymous with exclusivity and performance, attracting a global clientele of elite athletes, celebrities, and watch collectors. Notable models include the RM 027 series, created in collaboration with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, and the RM 50-03, one of the lightest mechanical chronographs ever made.

By 2025, Richard Mille SA had become a benchmark in haute horlogerie, known for limited-production masterpieces often priced in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Mille’s relentless commitment to innovation, aesthetic disruption, and technical excellence has redefined what it means to create a modern luxury watch, making his brand one of the most coveted in the world.

Personal Life

Richard Mille, born February 13, 1951, is 74 years old.

Richard Mille is not married and has no known children. He has never publicly shared details about any past relationships or dating history. His height is also not publicly documented. Mille prefers to keep his personal life private and focuses mainly on his luxury watch brand.

Net Worth

Richard Mille’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $2 million, primarily derived from his success as the founder of the luxury watch brand Richard Mille SA, established in 2001.

The brand, known for its high-priced, innovative timepieces, generates significant revenue, with estimates of CHF 1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2022.

Mille’s wealth is tied to his stake in the company, though Audemars Piguet holds a 10% share, and regional retail activities are managed by partners. His personal investments, including luxury cars and real estate, further contribute to his wealth.