Why He's No. 5

Ford seamlessly transitioned from fashion to journalism in 2006 as the guest editor and creative director for the Hollywood edition of Vanity Fair. The magazine, which featured a nude Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson on the cover, drew criticism from many in the industry who took issue with the publication's distinct lack of unclothed men.

Back Stage

Though he has expressed his own harsh views on the Bush administration publicly, Ford has no intentions of entering the world of politics. "I don't think I would have the stomach for the maneuvering that is necessary in politics," he admits. Instead, this 45-year-old creative genius has spoken openly about turning his attention toward directing. Only time will tell if this celebrated fashion maven can become a Hollywood mogul.

Forcaste

You generally don't expect good ol' boys from Texas to be arbiters of style, but that's precisely what Tom Ford has become. The Austin-born fashion designer almost single-handedly turned Gucci into a $4-billion brand before becoming the creative director of Yves Saint-Laurent Rive Gauche. "For me, fashion doesn't stop at clothes," he says. "Fashion is everything: Art, music, furniture design, graphic design, hair, makeup, architecture, the way cars look -- all those things go together to make a moment in time, and that's what excites me."

In recognition of his design efforts, his success with Gucci and his overall power within the fashion industry, Ford was awarded the Andr? Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design in May 2005.