Everything you should understand about Bernard Arnault, the second wealthiest individual globally and the wealthiest in Europe: Biography, Net Worth, Age, Business, Wiki, Residence, Family, and Career
| 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: | A sister |
| Profession: | Entrepreneur, investor, Art connoisseur, Media owner |
| Marital Status: | Married |
Bernard Arnault, a French industrialist also recognized as Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault, is also an investor and art connoisseur. He serves as the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, the largest producer of luxury items worldwide, boasting a market capitalization of $378 billion.
Arnault and his family once owned a prosperous construction firm and currently hold a net worth of US$186.5 billion as per Forbes, as of December 2022, ranking him as the world’s second wealthiest individual and the wealthiest in Europe.
He was born on March 5, 1949, in Roubaix. His mother, Marie-Josèphe Savinel, is the daughter of Étienne Savinel. His father, Jean Léon Arnault, an alumnus of École Centrale Paris, operated a civil engineering company known as Ferret-Savinel. Arnault spent numerous years working at the family’s construction venture.
Arnault’s collection encompasses artists like Picasso, Yves Klein, Henry Moore, and Andy Warhol. He played a significant role in establishing LVMH as a prominent art patron in France. The LVMH Young Fashion Designer competition was launched as an international event for students from fine arts institutions. Annually, the victor receives a scholarship to foster their brand’s growth along with a year of mentorship.
In 1999, he acquired Phillips de Pury & Company, an art auction house, until 2003, and took over France’s pioneering auction house, Tajan. Arnault initiated the Louis Vuitton Foundation construction endeavor in 2006. The Foundation was officially inaugurated in 2014 at the Jardin d’Acclimatation Paris.
Bernard Arnault Net Worth
Arnault’s wealth is accumulated through holdings in LVMH, a corporation that markets luxury products, generating billions in revenue. Occasionally, he has earned billions within merely 72 hours when share prices surged. Some brands under LVMH include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Moët & Chandon, and Tiffany & Co, among numerous others. Bernard Arnault’s net worth is approximately $170 billion. He stands as the third wealthiest individual globally and currently as the wealthiest man in Europe.
Bernard Arnault Personal Life
Bernard has been married on two occasions (his first spouse, Ann Devavrin, whom he wed in 1973 and divorced in 1990). Currently, he has been united with Helen Mercier since 1991. Arnault is a father to five children, who are also involved in the LVMH empire. Some of his offspring include 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 73 years of age as of 2022. His height measures 1.85 meters, and his weight is 80 kg.
Bernard Arnault Career & Business
Arnault ascended to the presidency of the family business in 1978. He began acquiring various companies, Financier Agache, a luxury goods entity, a textile firm, Boussac Saint-Frères, and Peaudouce, a diaper production company.
After becoming the CEO of LVMH in 1987, he also took on the role of chairman in 1989, following the acquisition of a majority of the company’s stocks. Today, Arnault leads one of the largest luxury groups globally. He supervised the procurement of significant firms including Celine, Kenzo, Berluti, La Tribune, Les Echos, and Lowe’s. As an investor, Arnault has also put money into enterprises such as Boo.com, Zebank, Netflix, Colony Capital, Princess Yachts, and Château d’Yquem. In addition to business pursuits, Arnault is an art connoisseur, and his collection features works by Andy Warhol, Henry Moore, Picasso, and Yves Klein, among others.
Bernard Arnault Education and Awards
He is presently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH. He finalized his diploma studies at Ecole Polytechnique, France’s premier engineering institution, in 1971 and commenced work for his father’s enterprise. Shortly after, he started redirecting the family business from construction to real estate, resulting in Ferret-Savinel selling its industrial construction segment and being rebranded as Ferinel.
- 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
Facts about Bernard Arnault
- “The wolf in the cashmere coat” is his nickname.
- He is the wealthiest individual in the fashion sector.
- He is a proficient pianist.
- He is an enthusiast of tennis.
- He is reported to own a private island in the Caribbean in the Bahamas.
