Gaye Raymond is an American entrepreneur and physical therapy educator. She co-founded Victoria’s Secret with her then-husband, Roy Raymond, in 1977, and later moved into academic work at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California.
Who is Gaye Raymond?
Gaye Raymond is best known for co-founding Victoria’s Secret with Roy Raymond on June 12, 1977. The couple opened their first store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California, and designed it around a Victorian-era theme.
Roy Raymond came up with the idea after feeling out of place shopping for lingerie for his wife at a department store. Gaye worked alongside him on the look and feel of the original store.
The Raymonds sold the business to Les Wexner in 1982. Gaye Raymond later built a career in physical therapy education, working at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California.
In 2022, she appeared as herself in the Hulu documentary series Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons, discussing the brand’s early years.
Early Life of Gaye Raymond
Gaye Raymond’s birth date, birthplace, and early family background have not been publicly documented. Most available information about her centers on her role in founding Victoria’s Secret with Roy Raymond in the 1970s.
The couple married before opening their first store in 1977. Beyond her marriage to Roy Raymond and her later academic career, details about Gaye Raymond’s personal life have stayed largely private.
Gaye Raymond Career
Founding Victoria’s Secret
Gaye Raymond and Roy Raymond founded Victoria’s Secret on June 12, 1977. Roy borrowed $40,000 from a bank and another $40,000 from his family to get the business started.
The first store opened at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. Gaye helped shape the store’s Victorian-inspired design, which featured dark wood furnishings, antique decor, and a separate seating area for men.
The store brought in about $500,000 in its first year. By 1982, Victoria’s Secret had grown to several stores along with a mail-order catalog, and it was generating millions of dollars in annual sales.
Life After Victoria’s Secret
In 1982, Roy Raymond sold Victoria’s Secret, including its stores and catalog, to Les Wexner for $1 million. Gaye and Roy Raymond divorced in 1990.
Roy Raymond died in 1993 after struggling with depression and a string of failed business ventures following the sale.
Gaye Raymond later spoke about those years, describing how Roy had hoped to keep working with Wexner before deciding to sell his stake in the company outright.
Career in Physical Therapy Education
Gaye Raymond went on to build a career at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California. University materials list her as Dr. Gaye Raymond, serving as Director of Clinical Education within the school’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
She has worked with other faculty members on student clinical placements and case report presentations. Samuel Merritt University recognized her contributions in coverage of its physical therapy graduating classes.
Gaye Raymond Ex-Husband
Gaye Raymond was previously married to Roy Raymond, the businessman who founded Victoria’s Secret. The couple worked together to launch the company in 1977 before selling it to Les Wexner in 1982.
Gaye and Roy Raymond divorced in 1990. Roy Raymond died in 1993, after a period of financial setbacks and depression following the sale of Victoria’s Secret.
Gaye Raymond Children
Gaye Raymond and Roy Raymond had two children together, a son and a daughter. Their names and current occupations have not been publicly confirmed.
Gaye Raymond Net Worth
Gaye Raymond’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. She co-founded Victoria’s Secret in 1977, though the company was sold to Les Wexner for $1 million in 1982, years before it grew into a multi-billion dollar brand.
Her income today is connected to her academic career at Samuel Merritt University, seen on her profile listing her work in the Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons documentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gaye Raymond’s net worth?
Gaye Raymond’s net worth is not publicly confirmed.
How old is Gaye Raymond?
Gaye Raymond’s exact age is not publicly confirmed, since her birth date has not appeared in reliable sources.
Who is Gaye Raymond married to?
Gaye Raymond was previously married to Roy Raymond, with whom she co-founded Victoria’s Secret. The couple divorced in 1990.
What is Gaye Raymond best known for?
She is best known for co-founding Victoria’s Secret with Roy Raymond in 1977.
Where did Gaye Raymond and Roy Raymond open their first store?
They opened their first Victoria’s Secret store at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California.
What does Gaye Raymond do now?
She works in physical therapy education at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, California, where she serves as Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
The Bottom Line
Gaye Raymond co-founded Victoria’s Secret with Roy Raymond in 1977, helping shape the original Victorian-style store at the Stanford Shopping Center. The couple sold the company to Les Wexner in 1982.
After her divorce from Roy Raymond in 1990 and his death in 1993, Gaye Raymond moved into a very different field, building a career in physical therapy education at Samuel Merritt University.
In 2022, she returned briefly to the public eye, appearing in the Hulu series Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons to discuss the brand’s origins.
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