He is known for being the CEO of the luxury group LVMH, but also for being one of the richest French people in the world. A look back at Bernard Arnault’s inspiring career.
Bernard Arnault was born on March 5, 1949 in Roubaix to a mother who inherited the Ferret-Savinel construction group and a father who was a company director. After studying at the École Polytechnique, he quickly took control of the family business, becoming director of construction and then managing director three years later.
He then tried to make a name for himself in the United States with the company, renamed Ferinel, operating in the real estate development industry. In 1984, Bernard Arnault and a group of investors took over the Boussac group, which included Christian Dior. The company quickly became the center of the businessman’s luxury strategy. In 1989, he became the main shareholder of LVMH and headed the world’s leading luxury group. In January of the same year, he was appointed chairman of the LVMH group and still holds this position today.
Since then, he has focused on growing his portfolio of prestigious brands with major acquisitions in new sectors such as wines and spirits, jewelry, hotels, cosmetics, perfumes, selective distribution and the press.
The businessman is also Chairman of the Board of Groupe Arnault S.E. Through his family holdings, Bernard Arnault manages the Group and participates in the creation of several international investment funds.
3rd largest fortune in the world
At $158 billion, Bernard Arnault’s personal fortune is impressive. According to the latest ranking of the world’s largest fortunes by Forbes magazine, Bernard Arnault is the third richest man in the world, after Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Among his hobbies, we find a passion for music, especially the piano, but also for painting and modern art. A true collector, he even became a patron of the arts and supported contemporary artistic creation by inaugurating the Louis Vuitton Foundation, near Paris. He is also Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor and Commander of the Arts and Letters.
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Featured photo : © Barande Jérémy /EP
