Richard Hayne

Hayne is a 1969 graduate of Lehigh University with a degree in anthropology.[4]

He co-founded Urban Outfitters, Inc., in 1970 with former wife, Judy Wicks.[5] The couple divorced a year later.[5] The first store was located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Today, the company operates over 400 stores under four brands: Urban Outfitters, Free People, Anthropologie and Terrain, a gardening brand which has standalone stores in Westport, Connecticut, and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.[6][7]

Hayne's current wife, Margaret Hayne, joined Urban Outfitters in August 1982.[8] He and his wife have been criticized for donating about $13,000 to then-Senator Rick Santorum until 2006, when Santorum lost his seat to Bob Casey, Jr.[9] They also came under fire after Urban Outfitters hastily retracted a shirt advocating support for same-sex marriage in the wake of the passage of California's Prop 8 in 2008.[6][10][11] The company later partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights to release a different shirt expressing support for same-sex marriage in 2009.[12] He has avoided stating his own views on homosexuality.[13] The company also partner with gay YouTuber Connor Franta to sell a limited clothing line at the 8 largest stores to raise money for GLSEN.[14]