Early Life
David Mackenzie Ogilvy was born on June 23, 1911, in West Horsley, Surrey, England. His father was a stockbroker and his mother was a homemaker. Ogilvy attended Fettes College, a boarding school in Edinburgh, Scotland. After graduating from Fettes, Ogilvy won a scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied history. However, he left Oxford after two years without graduating.
Family
David Ogilvy was married three times. His first wife was Melinda Street, whom he married in 1938. They had one son, David Fairfield Ogilvy, who was born in 1940. The marriage ended in divorce in 1955.
Ogilvy’s second wife was Anne Cabot, whom he married in 1957. They had no children together. The marriage ended in divorce in 1963.
Ogilvy’s third and final wife was Herta Lans, whom he married in 1973. They had no children together.
Melinda Street was a Canadian-born writer and photographer. She met Ogilvy while they were both working at the London office of the advertising agency Mather & Crowther. They were married in a small ceremony in London in 1938.
Anne Cabot was an American socialite. She met Ogilvy while they were both living in New York City. They were married in a lavish ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1957.
Herta Lans was a German-born artist. She met Ogilvy while they were both living in France. They were married in a small ceremony in Paris in 1973.
Ogilvy’s marriages were all relatively short-lived. However, he remained close to his first wife, Melinda Street, throughout his life. She died in 1999, just a few months after Ogilvy’s death.
Career
After leaving Oxford, Ogilvy worked as a kitchen hand in Paris. He then worked as a salesman for a mining company in Canada. In 1938, Ogilvy moved to the United States to work as an account executive for the advertising agency Mather & Crowther. In 1948, Ogilvy founded his own advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather.
- The Rolls-Royce campaign: This campaign featured the tagline “At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in the new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.”
- The Hathaway shirt campaign: This campaign featured the image of a man with a pencil-thin mustache and a broken eyetooth.
- The Dove soap campaign: This campaign featured the tagline “Dove: The soap that cares.”
Legacy
David Ogilvy died on July 21, 1999, at the age of 88. He is considered one of the most influential advertising figures of all time. His work helped to shape the modern advertising industry.
David Ogilvy Awards & Achievements
David Ogilvy was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including:
- Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival: This is the highest award given at the Cannes Lions Festival, which is considered the world’s most prestigious advertising festival. Ogilvy won the Grand Prix in 1959 for his campaign for Schweppes.
- Clio Awards: The Clio Awards are another prestigious advertising award. Ogilvy won a total of 11 Clio Awards, including two Grand Prix awards.
- The One Show Awards: The One Show Awards are a British advertising award. Ogilvy won a total of 14 One Show Awards, including two Gold Pencil awards.
- The David Ogilvy Award: The David Ogilvy Award is an award given by the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) to honor the best research-driven advertising campaigns. The award was named after David Ogilvy in 2002.
- The American Marketing Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award: This is the highest award given by the American Marketing Association. Ogilvy was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985.
In addition to these awards, Ogilvy was also inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Marketing Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963.
Ogilvy’s awards and honors are a testament to his success as an advertising executive. He was a pioneer in the field of advertising, and his work helped to shape the modern advertising landscape. His philosophy of advertising is still relevant today, and his work continues to inspire and influence advertising professionals around the world.
David Ogilvy Net Worth
David Ogilvy’s net worth is estimated to have been around $400 million at the time of his death in 1999. This includes the value of his estate, which included his home in France, his collection of art, and his shares in Ogilvy & Mather.
Ogilvy’s wealth came from his success as an advertising executive. He founded Ogilvy & Mather in 1948, and the agency quickly became one of the most successful advertising agencies in the world. Ogilvy’s campaigns were known for their creativity, humor, and attention to detail. He was also a pioneer in the use of market research to inform his advertising strategies.
Ogilvy’s net worth was not just a measure of his financial success. It was also a testament to his creativity and his ability to connect with consumers. His work helped to shape the modern advertising landscape, and his influence can still be felt today.
David Ogilvy son
David Ogilvy had two children with his first wife, Margaret “Peggy” Bunny Ogilvy:
- David Fairfield Ogilvy: David was born in 1940. He worked as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather for a few years before moving into the wine business. He is now the chairman of the wine merchant company Berry Bros. & Rudd.
- Alexandra Ogilvy: Alexandra was born in 1947. She is a writer and photographer. She has written several books, including “The Ogilvy Touch: The Making of an Advertising Legend” and “The Art of the Sale: Persuasive Techniques from the World’s Greatest Advertiser.”
David Ogilvy did not have any other children.
David Ogilvy famous works
The Rolls-Royce campaign
This campaign featured the tagline “At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in the new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.” The campaign was so successful that it helped to revive the Rolls-Royce brand.
The Hathaway shirt campaign
This campaign featured the image of a man with a pencil-thin mustache and a broken eyetooth. The campaign was so successful that it helped to make Hathaway shirts one of the most popular brands in the world.
The Dove soap campaign
This campaign featured the tagline “Dove: The soap that cares.” The campaign was so successful that it helped to make Dove one of the most popular brands in the world.
The Schweppes campaign
This campaign featured the tagline “Schweppes: The taste of difference.” The campaign was so successful that it helped to make Schweppes one of the most popular soft drinks in the world.
The Shell campaign
This campaign featured the tagline “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” The campaign was so successful that it helped to make Shell one of the most successful oil companies in the world.
These are just a few of David Ogilvy’s most famous works. He created many other successful advertising campaigns throughout his career, and his work continues to inspire and influence advertising professionals around the world.
FAQs
Q: What was David Ogilvy’s most famous campaign?
Ogilvy’s most famous campaign is probably the Rolls-Royce campaign. This campaign featured the tagline “At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in the new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.” The campaign was so successful that it helped to revive the Rolls-Royce brand.
Q: What was David Ogilvy’s philosophy of advertising?
Ogilvy believed that advertising should be truthful, persuasive, and memorable. He also believed that advertising should be based on sound research. Ogilvy’s philosophy of advertising has had a profound impact on the advertising industry.
Q: What are some of David Ogilvy’s most famous quotes?
- “The customer is not a moron. She is your wife.”
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
- “The function of advertising is to make selling easier.”
Conclusion
David Ogilvy was a true pioneer in the advertising industry. His work helped to shape the modern advertising landscape and his philosophy of advertising is still relevant today. Ogilvy was a master of creating memorable and persuasive advertising campaigns, and his work continues to inspire and influence advertising professionals around the word
