Jacob Arabo is an American jewellery and watch designer best known as the founder and chairman of Jacob & Co. He became internationally famous for creating extravagant jewellery and luxury watches for celebrities, musicians, athletes and wealthy collectors.
Born on June 3, 1965, in Tashkent, then part of the Soviet Union, Arabo moved to the United States as a teenager. He eventually built Jacob & Co. into one of the most recognisable luxury jewellery and watch brands in the world.
Quick Facts About Jacob Arabo
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jacob Arabo |
| Birth Name | Yakov Arabov |
| Date of Birth | June 3, 1965 |
| Age | 61 years old |
| Birthplace | Tashkent, former Soviet Union |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Jeweller, watchmaker and entrepreneur |
| Famous For | Founder of Jacob & Co. |
| Nickname | Jacob the Jeweler |
| Company Founded | Jacob & Co. |
| Wife | Angela Arabo |
| Children | Three sons |
| Notable Sons | Benjamin, David and Joey |
| Estimated Net Worth | About $50 million |
Jacob Arabo Early Life and Family
Jacob Arabo was born Yakov Arabov on June 3, 1965, in Tashkent, which was then part of the Soviet Union and is now the capital of Uzbekistan.
He was born into a Bukharian Jewish family and was the youngest of five children. Arabo grew up with four sisters and developed an early fascination with jewellery and watches.
His interest in watches reportedly became stronger after his father gave him a world-time watch when he was around 13 years old. He later worked part-time with a watchmaker, where he became fascinated by the small mechanical components inside watches.
In 1979, when Arabo was about 14, his family immigrated to the United States. They settled in Queens, New York, where the family worked to establish a new life.
Jacob Arabo Education and Jewellery Training
Arabo attended Forest Hills High School after arriving in New York. However, financial pressures within his family affected his education.
At around 16 years old, he left traditional schooling and enrolled in a jewellery-making programme. Although the programme was designed to last six months, he reportedly completed it in about four months.
He soon found work in a jewellery factory producing mass-market pieces. During the day, Arabo worked for the company, while at night he designed his own jewellery.
That early period allowed him to develop both technical craftsmanship and a distinctive design style.
How Jacob Arabo Started Jacob & Co.
Arabo began developing his own jewellery business while still very young.
By the age of 21, he had established a business in New York’s Diamond District. In 1986, he founded the company that would eventually become internationally known as Jacob & Co.
Initially, Arabo designed jewellery for private clients and other businesses. He specialised in bold gold and diamond pieces that stood apart from more traditional jewellery.
His reputation gradually spread among wealthy customers and people in the entertainment industry.
Why He Is Called Jacob the Jeweler
Jacob Arabo became widely known as “Jacob the Jeweler” during the rise of hip-hop culture in the 1990s.
The late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. was among the prominent artists who helped popularise the nickname. Arabo’s jewellery increasingly appeared on rappers and other entertainers who wanted large, customised diamond pieces.
Over time, his name was referenced in songs by major hip-hop artists. This exposure helped turn Jacob from a New York jewellery designer into a recognisable figure in popular culture.
His clients have included musicians, actors, athletes and international celebrities.
Jacob & Co. Watches
Although Jacob Arabo initially became famous for jewellery, watches eventually became an equally important part of his business.
One of the brand’s best-known early designs was the Five Time Zone Watch. The colourful watch allowed the wearer to see the time in several cities and became particularly popular with celebrities.
Jacob & Co. later moved into high-end mechanical watchmaking.
The company introduced increasingly complex timepieces, including the Quenttin, Epic SF24 and Astronomia collections.
The Astronomia became particularly famous because of its highly unusual movement and rotating components. It helped establish Jacob & Co. as a serious player in the world of complicated luxury watches.
Jacob Arabo and Luxury Watch Innovation
Jacob & Co. became known for producing watches that often combine mechanical engineering with dramatic visual design.
Rather than focusing only on traditional watchmaking aesthetics, Arabo pursued highly complicated and theatrical designs.
The company has produced watches featuring tourbillons, moving miniature sculptures, gemstones and unusual mechanical displays.
Jacob & Co. has also collaborated with luxury brands and public figures. Its partnership with Bugatti produced several high-end watches inspired by Bugatti automobiles and their engines.
By 2026, the company continued expanding its reputation in the global luxury watch market.
Jacob Arabo Celebrity Clients
Celebrity culture played a major role in Jacob Arabo’s rise.
During the 1990s and 2000s, his jewellery became closely associated with hip-hop artists. His pieces appeared on some of the biggest musicians of the period.
His customer base later expanded beyond music.
Actors, professional athletes, business leaders and wealthy collectors have purchased Jacob & Co. jewellery and watches.
The brand’s highly visible celebrity connections helped establish its image as a symbol of luxury and extravagance.
Jacob Arabo Wife and Marriage
Jacob Arabo is married to Angela Arabo.
The couple married when Jacob was around 24 years old. Angela also comes from a Bukharian Jewish background.
Their marriage has lasted for several decades. Arabo has occasionally spoken publicly about his wife and has credited his family as an important part of his life.
He has also created jewellery inspired by Angela, reflecting the personal connection between his family life and creative work.
Jacob Arabo Children
Jacob and Angela Arabo have three sons.
Their sons include Benjamin Arabov, David Arabov and Joey Arabov. The family has remained closely involved in business and entrepreneurship.
Benjamin Arabov has become particularly important to Jacob & Co. He eventually took over day-to-day leadership as the company’s chief executive officer.
Jacob remains closely associated with the creative direction and identity of the brand while Benjamin manages much of its modern business strategy.
Benjamin Arabov and Jacob & Co.
Jacob Arabo eventually handed significant management responsibility for Jacob & Co. to his son Benjamin Arabov.
Benjamin became chief executive officer and helped oversee the company’s international growth.
Under the younger Arabov’s leadership, Jacob & Co. continued expanding its luxury watch business, retail presence and global partnerships.
Jacob nevertheless remains the company’s founder and chairman and continues to be closely associated with its design philosophy.
Jacob Arabo Legal History
Jacob Arabo faced a major legal case during the 2000s.
He was arrested in 2006 as part of a federal investigation connected with the Black Mafia Family drug organisation.
Arabo was initially accused of involvement in money laundering. However, the most serious allegations against him were not the charges to which he ultimately pleaded guilty.
In 2007, he pleaded guilty to falsifying records and making false statements to federal investigators.
In 2008, Arabo was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine and forfeit $2 million to the U.S. government.
He later completed his sentence and returned to the luxury jewellery and watch business.
Jacob Arabo Net Worth
Jacob Arabo’s net worth is widely estimated at around $50 million.
However, his exact personal wealth has not been publicly disclosed through audited financial statements. Therefore, the figure should be treated as an outside estimate rather than a confirmed amount.
His wealth is primarily connected to his ownership interests in Jacob & Co., luxury jewellery, watches, investments and real estate.
The company itself has grown significantly over the years. Reported annual revenue reached approximately $188 million in 2022 after substantial growth during the previous several years.
Because Jacob & Co. is privately held, the precise value of Arabo’s ownership stake is not publicly known.
Jacob Arabo’s Influence on Jewellery and Watch Culture
The Jacob Arabo biography is closely connected with the rise of luxury jewellery in modern hip-hop culture.
He helped popularise oversized diamond jewellery and customised luxury watches among musicians during a period when jewellery increasingly became part of hip-hop identity.
Arabo later expanded beyond that market and developed Jacob & Co. into a global luxury brand known for ambitious mechanical watches.
At 61 years old in 2026, he remains the founder and chairman of Jacob & Co. His journey from a teenage immigrant working in New York’s jewellery industry to an internationally recognised luxury designer remains central to the brand’s story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Jacob Arabo?
Jacob Arabo is an American jeweller, watch designer and entrepreneur best known as the founder of Jacob & Co. He is also widely known by the nickname “Jacob the Jeweler.”
Q2: How old is Jacob Arabo?
Jacob Arabo is 61 years old as of 2026. He was born on June 3, 1965, in Tashkent, then part of the Soviet Union.
Q3: What is Jacob Arabo’s net worth?
Jacob Arabo’s net worth is widely estimated at approximately $50 million. The amount is an outside estimate because his complete private financial records are not publicly available.
Q4: Who is Jacob Arabo’s wife?
Jacob Arabo is married to Angela Arabo. The couple has been married for several decades and has three sons together.
Q5: How many children does Jacob Arabo have?
Jacob Arabo has three sons, including Benjamin, David and Joey. Benjamin Arabov currently plays a major leadership role at Jacob & Co.
Q6: Why is Jacob Arabo called Jacob the Jeweler?
Arabo became known as “Jacob the Jeweler” after becoming a popular jewellery designer among hip-hop artists and celebrities. The nickname became widely recognised through music and popular culture.
Q7: Does Jacob Arabo still own Jacob & Co.?
Jacob Arabo remains the founder and chairman of Jacob & Co. His son Benjamin Arabov serves as chief executive officer and oversees much of the company’s day-to-day operations.
