- Vera Wang is turning 75 and plans to continue working.
- The fashion designer told People that she wants to keep “prodding on” because she still enjoys creating.
- One in five Americans aged 65 or over were employed in 2023, an increase from 35 years ago, per Pew Research Center.
Vera Wang says she won’t stop working even as she grows older.
“I think maybe a little bit like Warren Buffett or Queen Elizabeth II, I’m just going to keep prodding on because I feel as though I’m able to do my best work more and more,” Wang, who is turning 75 in June, told People.
The fashion designer, who started her business at 40, shared that she still enjoys being creative.
“I’m really trying to respect that in me, that voice in me, that I feel very happy to be creating. That’s what it’s all about, really,” Wang said.
After working as a Vogue editor and an accessories designer at Ralph Lauren, Wang opened a bridal boutique in 1990 at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. Since then, her namesake brand has expanded to include fragrances, jewelry, and homeware.
In May 2021, Wang told CNBC that her work has allowed her “to really have a very full life.”
“I think work has been my whole life and it’s kept me honestly relevant, fascinated, passionate, frightened, worried and stressed,” she said. “I think the day that I don’t want to grow will really be the day that I stop.”
Wang is part of a list of celebrities and CEOs who have been vocal about their decisions to continue working even as they get older.
Jay Leno, 73, told Page Six in May 2023 that he won’t stop working “unless I have a stroke.”
Clint Eastwood previously told The Independent in April 2013 that he wants to continue making films for as long as possible.
“That’s always everybody’s dream. Wouldn’t it be great to be 105 and still making films?” he said. Eastwood turned 93 in May 2023. His last project was “Cry Macho” in 2021, which he directed and starred in, per his IMDB page.
Warren Buffett, who turned 93 in August 2023, is the oldest CEO of a Fortune 500 company. During a 2015 Fortune summit, the billionaire investor said that it would be “crazy” for him to leave his job because he still loves what he does.
“I’m tap dancing to work every day. There’s nothing more exciting than to get there. It doesn’t get better than that,” Buffett said.
In May 2023, Ron Olson, a Berkshire Hathaway board member told investors that he doesn’t think Greg Abel will take over as CEO of the company anytime soon, per AP.
“Warren is the same way. His energy is amazing. So don’t count on Greg taking over tomorrow,” Olson said.
More older people are choosing to continue working
About 1 in 5 Americans over 65 were employed in 2023, according to data from a Pew Research Center analysis. This is almost a twofold increase compared to 35 years ago.
Workers who are 65 and older are also more likely to say that they’re satisfied with their jobs compared to younger workers, a different Pew Research Center survey from 2023 found.
About one-third of Americans over 40 also say they would continue working even if they have no financial need, per a 2019 TD Ameritrade survey. Some of the top reasons include keeping their mind sharp and avoiding boredom.
I. Roy Cohen, a 101-year-old former CEO, previously told BI’s Jane Ridley that he continued working until he was 81.
“The idea of early retirement is horrible to me,” he said. “It’s stultifying.”
He also shared that keeping busy with home improvement projects and even keeping track of his own finances has helped his mind stay agile.
