In what year was Victoria's Secret founded?

Victoria’s Secret was founded in 1977.

Roy Raymond and his wife, Gaye Raymond, founded the company on June 12, 1977. The first store opened at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California. Roy Raymond reportedly conceived the idea after feeling uncomfortable shopping for lingerie in a traditional department store, where the selection and atmosphere seemed designed neither for him nor for a modern lingerie customer.

The Raymonds financed the venture with $40,000 borrowed from family and another $40,000 from a bank. The name invoked Queen Victoria and the refinement associated with the Victorian era, while “secret” referred to clothing hidden beneath a person’s outer garments. The business earned about $500,000 in its first year and expanded into additional stores and mail-order sales.

A major turning point came in 1982, when Les Wexner bought the five-store company for $1 million. He shifted its focus toward female shoppers and expanded it rapidly through American malls. Victoria’s Secret later broadened into fragrances, cosmetics, catalogs, and the fashion show that became central to its public image. Thus, 1977 is the founding year, while 1982 marks its change in ownership and direction.