Biography of Bernard Arnault & Family

Overview

Bernard Arnault and his family are some of the wealthiest people in the world. Arnault is the CEO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), a luxury goods conglomerate, and he is also the chairman of Christian Dior. Arnault and his family own numerous brands withing the LVMH portfolio, including Sephora, Bulgari, and Givenchy.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Arnault was born in Roubaix, France on March 5, 1949. His father, Jean Leon Arnault, owned a civil engineering business, and his mother, Marie-Josee Savinel, was a homemaker. Arnault developed an interest in business at a young age and began selling Christmas decorations to his classmates when he was just a teenager.

Arnault attended the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris, where he studied engineering. After completing his studies, he joined his father’s construction company, and later took over the business after his father’s retirement. However, Arnault had bigger plans and was eventually able to sell the company for a significant profit.

Career and Achievements

After selling his family’s construction business, Arnault used his profits to begin investing in real estate. He eventually became the chairman of a real estate company called Ferinel. In 1984, Arnault decided to invest in the luxury goods industry and purchased Christian Dior, which was struggling at the time.

Under Arnault’s leadership, Christian Dior was transformed into a profitable company. Arnault also began acquiring other luxury brands and eventually formed LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), which is now the world’s largest luxury goods company. LVMH owns many of the world’s most prestigious fashion and beauty brands, including Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Sephora.

In addition to his work in the luxury goods industry, Arnault has also been involved in philanthropy. He formed the Arnault Family Foundation in 1989 to support cultural and educational initiatives in France. The foundation has donated millions of dollars to various causes over the years.

Personal Life

Bernard Arnault is married to Helene Mercier, and the couple has five children together. Arnault is known for being a private person and rarely speaks to the media. However, he has been the subject of controversy over the years, particularly regarding his tax practices. Arnault is currently one of the richest people in the world and is often cited as a symbol of France’s luxury industry.