How Bernard Arnault Built the Fortune
Bernard Arnault is worth an estimated $137.48B today — #9 on the world's rich list. Chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods company.
The fortune didn't appear overnight. The first milestone on the public record came at age 22: joined the family firm. Everything after that is a chain of documented decisions — this is that chain, year by year.
The Milestones
1971: Joined the family firm
at age 22Began working at his family's construction business, Ferret-Savinel.
1984: Acquired Boussac Saint-Frères
at age 35Took control of the struggling textile group, whose holdings included Christian Dior — his entry point into luxury goods.
1989: Took control of LVMH
at age 40Became chairman and CEO of the recently formed LVMH group.
2021: Acquired Tiffany & Co.
at age 72Completed LVMH's roughly $16 billion acquisition of the jeweler Tiffany & Co.
Today: #9 in the world
Bernard's net worth is an estimated $137.48B, updated in real time from public holdings. See the live number →
Milestones are drawn from widely-reported public history; ages are computed from the birth year and can be off by one depending on the month. Net worth is our real-time estimate.