Bernard Arnault is a prominent French entrepreneur, investor, and art enthusiast. He serves as the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, the world’s leading luxury goods conglomerate.
As of January 31, 2022, Forbes ranked Arnault as Europe’s wealthiest individual and the third richest person globally. Under his leadership, LVMH has expanded significantly through strategic acquisitions, solidifying its influence in the luxury sector.
Beyond LVMH, Arnault oversees various other investment and holding firms, further showcasing his acumen in business and finance. His impact on the fashion and luxury industries remains unparalleled.
Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault, widely recognized as Bernard Arnault, is a prominent French entrepreneur, investor, and art collector. He serves as the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, the largest luxury goods conglomerate globally.
Forbes estimated the net worth of Arnault and his family at $186.5 billion, positioning him as Europe’s wealthiest individual and the second-richest person worldwide.
Born on March 5, 1949, in Roubaix, Arnault was raised in an industrialist family. His mother, Marie-Josèphe Savinel, inherited a passion for Dior, while his father, Jean Léon Arnault, who graduated from the École Centrale Paris, owned the engineering company Ferret-Savinel.
Arnault’s extensive art collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Yves Klein, reflecting his deep appreciation for contemporary art.
Under his leadership, LVMH has become a significant patron of French arts, notably through the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, which supports emerging talent from global fine arts schools by offering a scholarship and mentorship to develop their own brands.
Arnault also owned the art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company from 1999 to 2003 and acquired Tajan, a leading French auctioneer. In 2006, Arnault initiated the Louis Vuitton Foundation construction project, designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry.
The foundation, dedicated to creativity and contemporary art, was inaugurated on October 20, 2014, in Paris’s Jardin d’Acclimatation. This monumental building underscores Arnault’s commitment to fostering cultural innovation.
Bernard Arnault Wiki Details
Full Name
Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault
Nickname
Bernard Arnault
Date of Birth
05 March 1949
School
Lycee Maxence Van Der Meersch
Profession
Business magnate, Media proprietor, Art collector
Bernard Arnault Biodata
Age
72 years
Religion
Christian
Sun Sign/Zodiac Sign
Pisces
Birth Place
Roubaix, France
Date of Birth
March 5, 1949
Nationality
French
Residence
New Rochelle Paris
Home Town
Roubaix, France
Hobbies
Piano
Bernard Arnault Physical Appearance
Height in Centimetres
185 cm
Height in Meters
1.85 m
Height in Feet Inches
6′ 1”
Weight
81kg
Body Measurement
Not Known
Eye Colour
Blue
Hair Colour
Grey
Bernard Arnault Educational Qualification
Education Qualification
Graduate
School
France’s leading engineering school
College / University
École Polytechnique
Others
Not Known
Bernard Arnault Family And Relatives
Father
Jean Leon Arnault
Mother
Marie-Josèphe Savinel
Brothers
Not Known
Sisters
Dominique Watine-Arnault
Marital Status
Married
Wife
Anne Dewavrin(m:1973;div1990)Hélène Mercier (m. 1991)
Daughters
Delphine Arnault (French businesswoman, director and executive vice president of Louis Vuitton (LVMH Group)
Sons
Antoine Arnault Frédéric Arnault Alexandre Arnault Jean Arnault
Girlfriends / Affairs
Not Known
Bernard Arnault Career
Professional Beginning
After graduating from École Polytechnique in 1971, Bernard Arnault assumed leadership of his father’s construction business, Ferret-Savinel. By 1979, he rebranded the company as Férinel Inc., shifting its focus to property investments and spending several years building a successful real estate portfolio.
These property assets were eventually acquired by Compagnie Générale des Eaux, which later evolved into Nexity. Partnering with Antoine Bernheim, a managing director at Lazard Frères & Co., Arnault secured funding to acquire the struggling textile group Boussac Saint-Frères, which included the iconic Christian Dior label. Arnault personally contributed $15 million to this venture.
Acquisition of LVMH
In 1987, Henri Racamier, then chairman of LVMH, invited Bernard Arnault to invest in the company. The following year, Arnault acquired a 24% stake in LVMH for $1.5 billion.
After successfully ousting Racamier in 1990, Arnault expanded LVMH by bringing several renowned brands into its portfolio, including Givenchy, Kenzo, and Christian Lacroix, as well as luxury retailers Céline, Berluti, and Loewe.
Additionally, the jeweler Fred Joaillier, the global duty-free giant DFS Group, and the beauty retail powerhouse Sephora became part of the LVMH empire under his leadership.
LVMH Profitability & Success
Under Bernard Arnault’s leadership as CEO, LVMH achieved a remarkable valuation of over €313 billion (approximately $382 billion) in May 2021, making it the most valuable company by market capitalization in the Eurozone.
As part of his strategic vision, Arnault has emphasized decentralizing LVMH’s operations, ensuring that brands like Tiffany and others within the group operate independently, preserving their unique histories and identities.
On May 24, 2021, Arnault briefly became the wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of $187.3 billion, surpassing Jeff Bezos. However, a subsequent rise in Amazon’s stock later that day restored Bezos to the top spot.
Celebzbiography.com started with the main aim of providing the information about a person as much as we can. To know more about celebzBiography, you can click the link below.
