The Full Story of Susie Hilfiger: Tommy Hilfiger’s Former Wife
Susie Hilfiger is best known as the first wife of American fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. However, her story includes much more than a famous marriage.
She developed her own interests in clothing, children’s retail, historic furniture, and interior decoration. Her creative work gave her an identity outside her former husband’s company.
Susie also raised four children while the Tommy Hilfiger brand grew internationally. She maintained a relatively private family life despite living near fashion and entertainment circles.
Quick Bio
| Personal detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Susan Cirona Hilfiger |
| Popular name | Susie Hilfiger |
| Estimated birth year | Around 1958 or 1959 |
| Estimated age | Approximately 67 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Fashion entrepreneur, designer, retailer, and collector |
| Famous for | Being Tommy Hilfiger’s first wife |
| Former husband | Tommy Hilfiger |
| Marriage year | 1980 |
| Divorce year | 2000 |
| Children | Ally, Richard, Elizabeth, and Kathleen |
| Estimated height | 5 feet 6 inches or 168 centimeters |
| Estimated weight | 132 pounds or 60 kilograms |
| Estimated net worth | Approximately $20 million |
| Former business | Best & Co. |
| Former residence | Denbigh Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Current residence | Reportedly California |
Who Is Susie Hilfiger?
Susie Hilfiger, born Susan Cirona, is an American fashion entrepreneur and collector. She became widely recognized through her marriage to Tommy Hilfiger.
She was present during important early years of Tommy’s fashion journey. However, she later developed her own work in luxury children’s clothing and retail.
Susie relaunched Best & Co., a traditional children’s clothing business, in 1997. She served as its founder, chairman, designer, and creative leader.
She is also known for collecting antiques and decorating historic homes. Her properties reflected American, English, French, and equestrian design influences.
Early Life and Family Background of Susie Hilfiger
Susie was born with the name Susan Cirona, reportedly around 1958 or 1959. Her exact birthday and birthplace have not been publicly confirmed.
Very little information is available about her parents, siblings, or childhood home. She has kept most of her early family background private.
Her private nature continued after she became connected to a famous fashion family. She usually avoided turning personal family matters into public entertainment.
Susie entered the clothing world while she was still young. Her early retail experience eventually connected her with Tommy Hilfiger and changed her future.
Susie Hilfiger’s Education and Interest in Fashion
Details about Susie Hilfiger’s schools, college education, or professional qualifications are not publicly available. She has never widely discussed her academic history.
Her practical education appears to have developed through retail and clothing. She worked at People’s Place, Tommy Hilfiger’s early clothing business.
The store combined fashion with music and youth culture. This creative environment allowed Susie to understand customers, clothing styles, and retail presentation.
Susie and Tommy reportedly shared an interest in design and clothes. That common interest later influenced their personal relationship and early professional efforts.
How Susie Hilfiger Met Tommy Hilfiger?
Susie met Tommy Hilfiger while working at one of his People’s Place stores. Their meeting reportedly occurred in Ithaca, New York, during 1976.
Tommy was in his twenties and developing his early retail business. Susie was reportedly 17 and already interested in clothing and creative design.
Their professional connection gradually became a romantic relationship. Both shared enthusiasm for fashion, retail culture, music, and creating original clothing.
They stayed together after People’s Place experienced financial problems. The couple later moved toward New York City and pursued new opportunities in fashion.
Susie Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger’s Marriage Timeline
Susie and Tommy reportedly met in 1976 at People’s Place. Their relationship developed while Tommy was still building his early fashion career.
The couple married around 1980. Their marriage lasted approximately 20 years and covered the most important growth period of Tommy’s company.
During their marriage, they welcomed four children named Ally, Richard, Elizabeth, and Kathleen. They also established homes in Connecticut and Nantucket.
In July 2000, the couple publicly announced their decision to separate. Their statement described the separation as mutual and amicable.
Susie Hilfiger’s Role in Tommy Hilfiger’s Fashion Career
Susie accompanied Tommy during a difficult and uncertain stage of his fashion career. They moved to New York before his famous clothing label became successful.
The couple reportedly presented themselves as a husband and wife design team. They pursued opportunities with clothing companies while developing industry knowledge.
Susie provided personal support while Tommy moved from retail into professional clothing design. She also managed growing family responsibilities during his demanding career.
However, Susie should not be described as the founder of the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. Her contribution involved early collaboration, family support, and shared creative interests.
Why Did Susie Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger Divorce?
Susie and Tommy ended their marriage in 2000 after approximately two decades together. They did not publicly provide a detailed explanation for their divorce.
Their official statement said they had mutually and amicably decided to separate. This wording suggested that they wanted to handle the matter privately.
Tommy later acknowledged that his demanding business life placed pressure on the marriage. His growing company required extensive work, travel, and public responsibilities.
No dependable evidence supports rumors about affairs or major personal conflicts. Their private divorce arrangements and financial settlement were never fully disclosed.
Susie Hilfiger’s Career With Best & Co.
Susie established her strongest independent professional identity through Best & Co. She relaunched the traditional children’s clothing company in 1997.
The business offered classic children’s clothing, gifts, nursery products, furniture, and accessories. Its style emphasized traditional designs rather than temporary fashion trends.
Susie designed the company’s namesake collection and served as founder and chairman. She later focused more closely on design and creative development.
FAO Schwarz acquired Best & Co. in 2007. Susie remained connected to the business as creative director after the acquisition.
Susie Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger’s Four Children
Susie and Tommy have four children together. Their names are Alexandria Ally Hilfiger, Richard Ricky Hilfiger, Elizabeth Hilfiger, and Kathleen Hilfiger.
Ally became an author, artist, producer, and television personality. She appeared in the 2003 MTV reality program Rich Girls.
Richard, commonly known as Ricky Hil, pursued music and design. Elizabeth entered fashion and established her own creative clothing projects.
Kathleen has generally maintained a quieter public life. Tommy has discussed her autism diagnosis and the family’s efforts to provide appropriate support and care.
Interior Design Style and Antique Collection of Susie Hilfiger
Susie developed a strong reputation for decorating homes and collecting historic furniture. Her style combined elegance with comfort, family history, and traditional craftsmanship.
She favored English country design, American antiques, floral fabrics, decorative ceramics, equestrian objects, and carefully selected European furnishings.
At Denbigh Farm, Susie worked with the design company Colefax & Fowler. Her decorating vision also drew inspiration from celebrated designer Sister Parish.
Parts of her collection later appeared at major auctions. A September 2025 sale of her Nantucket collection totaled approximately $1 million.
Denbigh Farm and Nantucket Properties
Susie lived for nearly three decades at Denbigh Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut. The historic property covered more than 17 acres.
The estate included gardens, an orchard, horse stables, tennis courts, a carriage house, and a Mount Vernon inspired playhouse.
Susie selected the property as a private place to raise her children. She carefully restored its infrastructure while protecting its historic appearance.
She also maintained a notable Nantucket property associated with family summers and Rich Girls. Denbigh Farm eventually sold for approximately $15 million in 2023.
Height and Weight of Susie Hilfiger
Susie Hilfiger’s official height and weight have never been publicly confirmed. She has not released verified measurements through interviews or professional profiles.
Her estimated height is approximately 5 feet 6 inches, which equals around 168 centimeters. This figure is based only on public appearances.
Her estimated weight is approximately 132 pounds, or around 60 kilograms. Her actual weight may naturally change over time.
Susie has a slim appearance and a polished personal style. She often wears traditional outfits that reflect her interest in classic American fashion.
What Is Susie Hilfiger’s Net Worth?
Susie Hilfiger’s estimated net worth is approximately $20 million. However, no dependable financial publication has confirmed her personal fortune.
Her possible wealth comes from fashion work, Best & Co., property ownership, antiques, investments, and private financial arrangements following her divorce.
Denbigh Farm sold for approximately $15 million, while her 2025 Nantucket collection auction totaled around $1 million.
These sale totals do not represent personal profit. Taxes, ownership structures, commissions, expenses, and other private financial details remain unknown.
Where Is Susie Hilfiger Now?
Susie reportedly left Greenwich after selling Denbigh Farm in 2023. She planned to move west and live closer to her adult children.
She specifically discussed beginning a new chapter in California. Several of her children and grandchildren were already living on the West Coast.
Her relocation also encouraged the sale of furniture, artwork, ceramics, and decorative objects from her East Coast homes.
Susie now appears to maintain a quieter life centered on family and personal creative interests. Her exact residence and relationship status remain private.
Final Thoughts
Susie Hilfiger first gained public attention through her marriage to Tommy Hilfiger. However, she gradually built a creative identity of her own.
Her work with Best & Co. demonstrated her understanding of children’s clothing, luxury retail, design, branding, and traditional craftsmanship.
She also created carefully decorated family homes filled with antiques, art, textiles, and personal objects. Her collections reflected decades of thoughtful purchasing.
Today, Susie remains connected to fashion history through her family, former business, properties, and design legacy. She continues to value privacy and family life.
FAQs
How old is Susie Hilfiger?
Susie Hilfiger is estimated to be approximately 67 years old in 2026. Her exact birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
What is Susie Hilfiger’s real name?
Her birth name is Susan Cirona. She became publicly known as Susie Hilfiger after marrying fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.
How many children does Susie Hilfiger have?
Susie has four children with Tommy Hilfiger. They are Ally Hilfiger, Richard Ricky Hilfiger, Elizabeth Hilfiger, and Kathleen Hilfiger.
How tall is Susie Hilfiger?
Susie Hilfiger is estimated to stand around 5 feet 6 inches, or 168 centimeters. Her official height remains unconfirmed.
What is Susie Hilfiger’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is approximately $20 million. This remains an unofficial estimate because Susie has never publicly disclosed her complete finances.



