French billionaire businessman, investor, and art collector Bernard Arnault have a net worth of $190.9 billion as of 2021.

Bernard is the chairman and CEO of the luxury group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, which also owns brands like Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Fendi.

He was briefly the world’s richest man in May 2021, ahead of Jeff Bezos.’

Unsurprisingly, he is ranked #3 in Forbes’ list of Billionaires 2021 and was  56th in its Powerful People 2018 list.

Similarly, in 2018, he overtook Amancio Ortega to become the wealthiest man in fashion and the richest from the European continent.

Arnault has been felicitated with the Grand Officer of Legion of Honour and Commander of the Legion of Honour, the highest French honorific order for his services to fashion.

Quick Facts

Let us have a look at some facts about the luxury fashion mogul Bernard Arnault.

Bernard Arnault: Net Worth and Income

Bernard Arnault belongs to an elite group of centibillionaires, including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, etc.

He is involved in LVMH as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Executive Committee and makes $3,470,000 for his roles, making him the second-highest earner.

Similarly, in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he gave up his salary for April and May.

Besides, he is the largest shareholder of LVMH, which made a €44.7 billion revenue throughout 2020.

The businessman received a massive windfall when LVMH announced a dividend of €6 per share.

Also, he sold his personal stakes in Cheval Blanc to LVMH for a staggering €238 million.

Arnault suffered significant losses due to the coronavirus in 2020, losing $30 billion in his net worth.

Bernard Arnault: Island, Houses, and Vehicles

Island

Arnault owns the lavish $35 million Indigo Island in the Bahamas.

Further, the 133-acre property has multiple hilltop villas, exquisite beaches, a marina, and a tennis court.

Houses

Arnault lives in Paris Left Bank estate in a historic neighborhood with heritages such as St.Germain-des-Prés and Latin Quarter.

Apparently, he also has $125 million worth of property portfolio in Los Angeles, California.

Similarly, Arnault owns much of the Rodeo drive, and he purchased a residential home in 2016 for $32.5 million in Trousdale Estates.

In 2017, the businessman forked out around $17 million on a mansion near Hollywood Hills’ Bird Streets.

Similarly, he bought its adjacent house later in 2017 for $14.5 million. Both houses are located in pristine locations in the neighborhood and provide magnificent views of the LA basin.

Moreover, he paid $30 million for a bulky midcentury next-door house and a further $34 million for a 3.64-acre property in Beverly Hills.

Interestingly, he is reportedly planning to rebuild these houses into one gigantic, joint home.

He also owns a huge vacation villa in Saint-Tropez, French Riviera, which is primarily used for holidays.

Moreover, he owns the Chateau Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, a century-old castle encompassing rich vineyards considered the best in the world.

Similarly, he owns the Le Cheval Blanc in Courchevel. It is a glamorous boutique hotel designed with Savoie materials and has contemporary wooden furnishings.

Further, the hotel consists of 34 luxury rooms, balconies with stunning views, a private chalet, and amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness area, jacuzzi, and sauna.

In the past, he has owned a $75 million estate in Virginia spreading over 4500-acres.

Vehicles

Cars

Arnault possesses the $85,000 BMW 7-series luxury sedan, which comes with upmarket interiors, an infotainment system, and features such as eight-speed transmission, all-wheel drive, and air suspension.

Yachts

He owned the 70-meter Amadeus/Felix research vessel-turned-yacht designed by Jade Yachts but was sold in 2015.

Further, the yacht could host 12 guests and contain 19 crew members in its seven spacious and luxurious cabins.

Currently, he has the 101.5m Symphony yacht created by Feadship.

Similarly, the €130 million yacht is designed to carry 20 passengers in its eight cabins and has a glass-bottom swimming pool, cinema, and jacuzzi.

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Private Jets

Arnault owns the $40 million Dassault Falcon 7X private jet, which is registered as OY-FWO.

Further, the trijet is powered by an S-Duct central engine and has a range of 5,950 nautical miles.

Similarly, he has the $73 million Bombardier Global 7500 purchased in 2021. It is registered as F-GVMA.

Previously, he had the $23 million Bombardier Global Express with F-GVML registration.

Bernard Arnault: Lifestyle and Vacations

Lifestyle

Bernard Arnault likes to be dressed in formal clothing for most occasions. He can be mostly seen in grey, black, and navy suits.

In addition, he wears ties designed by his flagship brand Christian Dior, and black loafers by Berluti.

Further, Arnault has held modern and contemporary arts from Picasso, Basquiat, Henry Moore, Damien Hirst, Yves Klein, Maurizio Cattelan, Andy Warhol, etc.

Besides, he is an avid wine drinker and owns over 25 wineries worldwide, including the $10 million Burgundy winery.

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Vacations

Bernard Arnault is a wine lover, and he likes to spend his vacations in vineyards. His favorite destination is Bordeaux, where he manages an old vineyard with his friend Albert Frere.

Moreover, he has designed a posh hotel in the French-Swiss Alps with natural springs and waterfalls for relaxation and skiing.

Also, he spends his holidays in his St-Tropez vacation home, where he has been pictured playing tennis and having lunch in Club 55 with his family.

Bernard Arnault: Charity

Arnault established the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation in 2006 with $140 million to protect and promote contemporary art and culture in France.

Through LVMH’s Corporate Philanthropy program, he has supported organizations such as Foundation des Hôpitaux de France, Le Pont-Neuf. Save the Children, Robin Hood Foundation, etc.

In addition, the businessman has aided old & disabled people through the Fondation Claude Pompidou and provided for healthcare, agriculture, and education in Haiti.

Besides, his family had pledged to contribute $234 million to repair the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was damaged in a 2019 fire.

Also, he has donated $11 million to help control the Amazon forest fires.

Bernard Arnault: Media, Investments, and Book Publications

Media

To date, Arnault has appeared in documentaries such as Mcqueen, Inside Dior, Stupefying!, 60 Minutes, Habillé(e)s pour l’hiver, Un jour, un Destin, etc.

Also, he has given an interview in the popular show The CNBC Conversation

Moreover, his photo has been featured on the cover of Forbes magazine in November 2010’s volume 186 edition.

Investments

Bernard Arnault owns 97.5% of the shares in Christian Dior, 41.2% of the stakes in Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, and 8.4% in Hermes.

Furthermore, he spent $3.2 billion in 2019 to purchase hospitality group Belmond, which operates over 46 hotels and cruises.

Similarly, in 2021, his company LVMH acquired American jeweler Tiffany & Co for $15.8, which was the biggest acquisition of a luxury brand.

Over the years, he has invested in several web-based firms such as Boo.com, Zebank, and Libertysurf.

In addition, Arnault is a 10.69% owner of one of the world’s biggest food distribution company Carrefour.

Moreover, he also has stakes in the yacht business, buying Princess Yachts and Royal van Lent for around 250 million each.

Besides, he has a personal investment in the wine company Château Cheval Blanc, but LVMH subsequently bought it.

Also, he owned an art auction house called Phillips de Pury & Company.

Book Publications

Arnault’s extraordinary life and career have been reflected in the $239.89 book “The Taste of Luxury: Bernard Arnault and the Moet- Hennessy Louis Vuitton Story.”

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Bernard Arnault: Career

Arnault started his career after graduation by working for his father’s company Ferret-Savinel.

In 1984, he purchased a faltering company called Agache-Willot-Boussac which controlled Bon Marche and Christian Dior brands.

Later, he renamed it Financiere Agache and created a turnaround by reducing costs and selling some of its businesses.

Then, he formed a holding company with Guinness by providing them $1.5 billion to acquire 24% of LVMH shares.

Further, he spent another $600 million to buy 13.5% of its stakes, becoming the largest shareholder.

Later, he became the chairman of LVMH by gaining control of 43.5% of its shares and transformed it into one of the enormous luxury brands.

3 Facts About Bernard Arnault

Bernard Arnault started a relationship with his wife Helene Mercier, a pianist, by playing the tunes of Chopin and other renowned composers on piano.

In 2013, he filed for Belgian citizenship but later withdrew his application after allegations against him regarding tax evasion.

His brand Louis Vuitton never sells its bags for a lower value. Instead, they burn the bags to maintain their exclusiveness.

Bernard Arnault: Social Media Presence

Bernard Arnault doesn’t have any social media. He prefers to stay low and away from the spotlight.

However, he does have a bio page on the official website of LVMH.

Quotes

“I think in business, you have to learn to be patient. …”

“Luxury goods are the only area in which it is possible to make luxury margins. …”

“Affordable luxury – these are two words that don’t go together. …”

“A good product can last forever.”

FAQs

What is the net worth of Bernard Arnault’s wife?

Bernard Arnault’s wife Hélène Mercier-Arnault’s net worth is around $300-500 million.

What is Louis Vuitton’s net worth?

Louis Vuitton’s net worth is $40 billion with a growth rate of over 15% since the last year.