Bernard Arnault net worth: Bio, age, career, family, business, wife

Bernard Arnault’s wealth: Biography, age, profession, family, enterprise, spouse.

Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault is a French entrepreneur, investor, and art enthusiast. He is the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, the globe’s largest luxury goods enterprise. As per Forbes, Arnault and his family possess a fortune of US$186.5 billion as of December 2022, positioning him as the second-richest individual globally and the wealthiest in Europe.

Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault entered the world in Roubaix on March 5, 1949. His mother, Marie-Josèphe Savinel, the child of Étienne Savinel, had a “fascination for Dior.” His father, entrepreneur Jean Léon Arnault, a graduate of École Centrale Paris, was the owner of the civil engineering firm Ferret-Savinel.

Among the artists featured in Arnault’s collection are Picasso, Yves Klein, Henry Moore, and Andy Warhol. He also played a significant role in positioning LVMH as a prominent art benefactor in France. The LVMH Young Fashion Designer competition was initiated as an international event for students from fine arts institutions. Annually, the victor receives a scholarship to aid in their brand’s growth and a year of mentorship.

He owned Phillips de Pury & Company, an art auction house, from 1999 to 2003 and acquired France’s first auctioneer, Tajan. Arnault initiated the Louis Vuitton Foundation construction initiative in 2006. The building, conceptualized by Frank Gehry, is dedicated to creation and contemporary art. The Foundation was officially unveiled on October 20, 2014, at the Jardin d’Acclimatation Paris.

Bernard Arnault Biography and Profile Overview

Full Name	Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault
Birth Date	5 March 1949
Birth Place	Roubaix, France
Net Worth	$170 billion
Nick Name	Bernard Arnault
Religion	Christian
Nationality	French
Father’s Name	Jean Leon Arnault
Mother’s Name	Marie-Josephe Savinel
Siblings	One sister
Profession	Entrepreneur, investor, art collector, media proprietor
Marital Status:	Married

Bernard Arnault Net Wealth

Bernard Arnault’s wealth is approximately $170 billion. Bernard Arnault ranks as the third wealthiest individual worldwide and is currently the richest individual in Europe. His fortune is accumulated through stakes in LVMH, which markets luxury items, generating billions. He can occasionally amass billions in as little as 72 hours during stock surges. Some brands affiliated with LVMH include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moët & Chandon, and Tiffany & Co., among many others.

Bernard Arnault Personal Life (Spouse)

Bernard has married twice (his first spouse, Ann Devavrin, to whom he was wed in 1973 and divorced in 1990). Presently, he has been united with Helen Mercier since 1991. Arnault has five children who are also involved in the LVMH empire. Among his children are Frederic Arnault, Antoine Arnault, Delphine Arnault, and Frederic Arnault.

Bernard Arnault Parents

He was born to Marie-Josèphe Savinel and Jean Léon Arnault.

Bernard Arnault Age, Height, and Weight

Born on 5 March 1949, Bernard Arnault is 74 years of age as of 2023. His height measures 1.85 meters, and he weighs 80 kg.

Bernard Arnault Career & Business Ventures

After taking the chairmanship of the company, Bernard commenced acquiring other enterprises, such as Financier Agache, a luxury goods firm. He also bought a struggling textile company, Boussac Saint-Frères, and Peaudouce, a diaper production company.

In 1987, he became the CEO of LVMH and, in 1989, ascended to the position of Chairman after acquiring a majority of the company’s shares. Today, Arnault is among the largest luxury groups globally, alongside two other luxury corporations, Kering and Swiss luxury giant Richemont. He directed the acquisition of significant companies such as Celine, Kenzo, Berluti, La Tribune, Les Echos, and Lowe’s. Arnault has also invested in entities like Boo.com, Zebank, Netflix, Colony Capital, Princess Yachts, and Château d’Yquem. Besides his business affairs, Arnault is an art enthusiast, and his collection features works from Andy Warhol, Henry Moore, Picasso, and Yves Klein, among others.

Bernard Arnault Education and Accolades

Currently, he holds the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH. He completed his diploma studies at Ecole Polytechnique from 1969 to 1971. Arnault attended Lycée Maxence Van Der Meersch in Roubaix and Lycée Faidherbe in Lille. He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, France’s premier engineering school, in 1971 and began working for his father’s company. After three years of urging his father to change the company’s focus to real estate, Ferret-Savinel sold the industrial construction division and was rebranded as Ferinel. He has also received numerous honours which are quite impactful.

• Grand Officer of the Legion d’Honneur on 14 July 2011
• Commander of the Legion d’Honneur on 10 February 2007.
• Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2012
• Woodrow Wilson Award for Global Corporate Citizenship in 2011.
• The Museum of Modern Art’s David Rockefeller Prize in March 2014.
• Member of the World’s Millionaires

Bernard Arnault: Facts

• Bernard contributed a €200 million donation for the restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
• “The Wolf in Cashmere” is his nickname.
• He began his career in the construction industry and climbed the ranks to become the CEO of the globe’s leading fashion conglomerate.
• His major break occurred when he acquired Dior from a bankrupt enterprise.
• In the midst of the upheaval, he secured a 24 percent controlling stake in Louis Vuitton.
• Bernard Arnault now stands as the most affluent individual in the fashion realm.
• His collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol, Basquiat, and Hirst.
• He is an accomplished pianist.
• He is an avid tennis enthusiast.
• It is rumored that he owns a private island in the Caribbean in the Bahamas.