Anna Wintour, the iconic editor-in-chief of American Vogue, is stepping down after 37 years at the helm
Fashion legend Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Vogue after nearly four decades leading the iconic magazine. According to reports from The Daily Front Row, WWD, and Business of Fashion, the 75-year-old announced her decision during a staff meeting on Wednesday.
Though she’s leaving her role at Vogue US, Wintour isn’t leaving publishing altogether. She will continue to serve as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and global editorial director for Vogue worldwide.
A Historic First Cover
Wintour made waves right from the start. Her first Vogue cover in November 1988 featured Israeli model Michaela Bercu in a pair of $50 jeans and a $10,000 Christian Lacroix sweater — a bold mix of casual and couture that signaled a new era.
“It broke all the rules,” Wintour said in a 2012 interview with Vogue. “It was so unlike the typical covers — no heavy makeup, no big jewelry. I just sensed the winds of change.”
The cover sparked all kinds of interpretations — some claimed it was a statement on religion, pregnancy, or fashion’s future. Wintour said none of those were true: “I just liked the photo.”
Net Worth and Career Earnings
As of recent estimates, Anna Wintour’s net worth is around $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her reported salary as editor-in-chief was $4 million per year, bolstered by her roles as Condé Nast’s artistic director (since 2013) and global chief content officer (since 2020).
The Devil Wears Prada Rumors
Wintour has long been rumored to be the inspiration for Miranda Priestly, the icy editor-in-chief character in The Devil Wears Prada, the 2003 novel by her former assistant Lauren Weisberger. The story was adapted into the hit 2006 film starring Meryl Streep.
Though Weisberger has denied it was a direct portrayal, the similarities were striking — and Wintour leaned into the moment. She famously wore Prada to the movie’s premiere, with her daughter Bee later saying the film “really got” her mother.
In a 2024 BBC interview, Wintour shrugged off comparisons to Priestly. “It’s up to others to decide,” she said, downplaying her famously frosty image.
Anna Wintour’s exit marks the end of an era — not just for Vogue, but for fashion publishing as a whole. Her legacy: redefining what fashion means, both on the page and in the world.
