Only Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are richer: Bernard Arnault, his life and wealth as the owner of luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Dior and much more
- In four decades, Bernard Arnault has built and controls a global fashion and luxury goods empire, and is now worth US$137 billion
- All his children work in the family business at LVMH brands Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Tag Heuer and Berluti
When it comes to the world of luxury goods, no one is more successful than Bernard Arnault.
Arnault, the 72-year-old CEO of French luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has built his fortune over the span of almost four decades, amassing an empire that includes some of the best-known names in fashion, jewellery and alcohol, including Louis Vuitton, Tag Heuer and Dom Pérignon.
Along the way, Arnault has brought his five adult children into the fold, building a family-run business that has resulted in the world’s third-largest fortune.
Here’s how Arnault got his start and became one of the richest people in the world.
The 73-year-old French businessman is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, known as LVMH. Arnault owns a 97.5 per cent stake in Christian Dior, which controls 41.2 per cent of LVMH.
Arnault comes from the northern French town of Roubaix and studied engineering at one of France’s most prestigious schools, the École Polytechnique. After graduating, Arnault went to work for his father’s construction company, Ferret-Savinel.
