Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by Ben
French entrepreneur Bernard Arnault is worth $200 billion. Bernard Arnault became wealthy as LVMH’s chairman and CEO. Bernard has been among the world’s most prosperous, with Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates, for most of his adult life.
Bernard Arnault became the world’s most prosperous on December 13, 2022, surpassing Elon Musk.
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Bernard Arnault’s net worth reached $200 billion for the first time in April 2023 when LVMH shares rose. Bernard became the third person in history with a net worth of over $200 billion (excluding inflation).
Wealth Details
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault became wealthy, and Arnault rescued Christian Dior from bankruptcy in the 1980s. He subsequently formed a conglomerate of luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Moet, Hennessy (thus “LVMH”), Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Tag Heuer, Bulgari, and Tiffany & Co., using Dior’s profits and valuation. LVMH has 60 brands and generates $70 billion annually, and LVMH’s current market cap is $384 billion.
Dior owns 41% of LVMH and 97% of Dior directly. Additionally, the family owns 7% of LVMH directly. Their voting powers exceed 50%.
Dior owns 41% of LVMH and 97% of Dior directly. Additionally, the family owns 7% of LVMH directly. Their voting powers exceed 50%.
Early Life
On March 5, 1949, Roubaix, France, Bernard Jean Etienne Arnault was born. His father, Ecole Centrale Paris graduate Jean Leon Arnault, was a manufacturer.
Marie-Josephe Savinel was the daughter of Etienne Savinel, who founded Ferret-Savinel, a civil engineering firm. Savinel ceded Ferret-Savinel administration and ownership to his son-in-law Jean Leon Arnault (Bernard’s father) in 1950. Ecole Polytechnique, France’s finest engineering school, graduated Bernard in 1971.
Family Business
Arnault joined Ferret-Savinel, his father’s company, after graduating in 1971. He was business president from 1978 to 1984. He successfully led Ferret-Savinel away from construction and into real estate.
Luxury Goods
Bernard and Bernheim bought Financiere Agache in 1984. He became CEO of Financiere Agache and rescued the textile business Boussac Saint-Freres from bankruptcy. Boussac owned Christian Dior and Le Bon Marche, among others. Arnault sold Boussac assets save Dior and Le Bon Marche.
Bernard and his family still own 97% of Dior.
LVMH
Bernard spent Dior’s growing worth and income on premium brands. LVMH, a holding company for Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy, was founded by Bernard in 1987. He and Guinness formed a holding company in July 1988 to acquire 24% of LVMH’s shares for $1.5 billion.
Arnault bought 13.5% of LVMH shares for $600 million to preempt the Louis Vuitton group’s “blocking minority” bid. He became LVMH’s top stakeholder.
In January 1989, he bought $500 million more shares. He owned 43.5% of LVMH’s shares and 35% of its voting rights. He prevented the LVMH group’s dismantlement and transformed it into one of the world’s largest luxury conglomerates.
LVMH flourished under Arnault. Sales, profit, and market value increased by 5 and 15 times, respectively, in eleven years. Despite owning 75 companies as of June 2020, Arnault has maintained to decentralize the brands, which helps them be seen as autonomous brands and firms with their histories and stories.
LVMH also owns Céline (1988), Berluti (1993), Kenzo (1993), Guerlain (1994), Loewe (1996), Marc Jacobs (1997), Sephora (1997), Thomas Pink (1999), Emilio Pucci (2000), and Fendi (2001).
Other Investments
Arnault owns many companies besides LVMH. Europatweb invested in Boo.com, Libertysurf, and Zebank between 1998 and 2001. Groupe Arnault invested in Netflix in 1999. In 2007, Colony Capital and Arnault acquired 10.69% of Carrefour.
France’s largest supermarket chain is Carrefour, the world’s second-largest food distributor. He also sells yachts. Princess Yachts cost 253 million in 2008. He bought Royal van Lent for almost the same price.
Art Collection
Arnault also collects paintings. LVMH has funded Picasso and Warhol shows in France. Arnault has a private collection of impressionist and modern art, which includes works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall. He also owns pieces by contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons. It is rumored that his collection is worth more than 1 billion.
Auction Houses
He also supports numerous auction houses, including Christie’s and Sotheby’s. In December 2016, Arnault was part of a consortium that purchased the famed Ritz Paris Hotel for 1 billion. He has been involved in numerous real estate developments in major European cities.
Personal Life
In 1990, Arnault divorced Anne Dewavrin; they have two and three kids. After the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris, France, Arnault, and his family contributed 200 million to repair and restore the cathedral.
Pros and Cons of Bernard Arnault Net Worth
Pros
- Arnault has immense wealth and is one of the wealthiest people in the world.
- His investments have helped to create jobs and grow economies around the world.
- He is an influential figure who continues to invest in projects that are meaningful to him.
Cons
- Some of his investments may not benefit the public and can lead to negative consequences.
- Arnault’s wealth is concentrated in a few companies, potentially leading to monopolization or unethical business practices.
- He has been accused of tax evasion in France, and there have been allegations of insider trading. Despite these accusations, Arnault has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
- Arnault’s wealth could lead to market distortion, with his investments unpredictably influencing prices and market forces. This could damage smaller businesses that need more resources or influence larger companies.
Final Thought – Bernard Arnault Net Worth
Bernard Arnault net worth is immense, but it’s important to remember that this kind of wealth should be used responsibly and with care. The public must remain vigilant to ensure that any investments made by Arnault or other wealthy individuals benefit everyone, not just a few.