Pat McGrath’s name is one of the most respected in global beauty. Born in Northampton, England, Pat was raised by her Jamaican mother Jean, who played a huge part in sparking Pat’s love for fashion and makeup. Without any formal training, McGrath moved to London and began to build her name during the vibrant underground fashion scene of the 80s and early 90s.
Her mother’s influence, paired with a fearlessness to experiment with bold color and texture, turned Pat into an artist who did not just follow trends but set them. She grabbed attention for her work in edgy magazines and photo shoots that mixed glamour with an avant-garde twist.
Breakthrough In The Fashion World
In the early 90s, McGrath’s career took off when she teamed up with photographer Edward Enninful. Together they helped reshape what fashion editorials could look like. With designers like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana lining up for her talent, Pat quickly became the secret weapon behind some of the most iconic runway looks ever seen.
By 2004, her influence was so big that Procter & Gamble made her their Global Cosmetics Creative Design Director. Despite her corporate gig, Pat kept creating groundbreaking looks for fashion weeks around the world, becoming the person every designer wanted backstage.
The Birth Of Pat McGrath Labs
After years of shaping the industry, Pat decided to put her own stamp on it. In 2015, she launched Pat McGrath Labs with one product: Gold 001. She sold 1,000 units on her website, and they were gone in six minutes. That test run showed how much weight her name carried.
What followed was a beauty revolution. Her brand built a cult following fast. Beauty lovers waited for every drop, and products often sold out within hours. The formulas were luxurious, the packaging bold, and the demand unstoppable.
By 2018, Pat McGrath Labs had its own counters in Sephora stores across the US. When McGrath sold a small stake in her brand that year, it was valued at $1 billion. At that moment, she reportedly owned between 70 and 85 percent of the company, putting her net worth around $700 million. She became one of the wealthiest self-made women in fashion overnight.
The Business Faces Challenges
But staying at the top in the beauty industry is not easy. As trends shifted toward minimalist makeup, Pat’s dramatic, high-fashion approach started to feel out of sync with what customers wanted in the pandemic years. Eurazeo, one of the brand’s key investors, exited in 2021. Another investor, Belgian firm GBL, bought a 14.4% stake but later wrote down its value by 88% due to poor sales and management struggles.
The drop in brand value was huge. By 2024, the company was estimated to be worth about $150 million, a massive slide from its billion-dollar peak. McGrath’s personal net worth now sits closer to $100–150 million.
Reports also described an unstable work culture. Former employees spoke about late-night decisions, changing plans, and constant last-minute changes that made it tough to keep up with global demand.
Never Count Pat Out
Even as her brand’s value dropped, Pat’s influence didn’t fade. In 2024, she created a viral “glass skin” look for Maison Margiela’s couture show that broke the internet. The glossy, mirror-like finish stunned the beauty world and re-ignited excitement for her products.
In 2025, she launched Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask to mimic the look. While the product had a rocky rollout, selling only about 100 units at first, it proved that McGrath’s name still has the power to create buzz overnight.
Louis Vuitton took note too. In 2025, they named Pat their Creative Director of Makeup for the brand’s new beauty division, cementing her as the top voice in luxury makeup today.
Industry Honors And Lasting Impact
Pat’s influence goes way beyond products and runway shows. She changed how beauty is represented in fashion. Her work highlights individuality and diversity, making sure models of all skin tones and cultures are part of the spotlight.
In 2013, she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. In 2021, she received the ultimate honor: a damehood from Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first makeup artist ever to get this title.
She was named in Time’s “100 Most Influential People” and has been called “the most influential makeup artist in the world” by Vogue’s Anna Wintour. For ten years, every single Vogue Italia cover featured Pat’s work.
Where She Stands Today
In 2025, Pat McGrath’s estimated net worth of about $100 million may be lower than her peak, but her impact cannot be measured in dollars alone. She redefined beauty standards, pushed boundaries, and inspired generations of makeup artists to be bold, creative, and fearless.
Even if Pat McGrath Labs never reaches its former billion-dollar high, the brand remains a symbol of artistry and luxury. Pat’s journey is proof that vision and passion can shape entire industries and that a single creative mind can still set the global standard for beauty.