The Gentle Bernard Arnault

The Gentle Bernard Arnault

Bernard Arnault : The richest man in France, the godfather of luxury goods in the world, the founder of the LVMH group, and Napoleon in the boutique world

The Arnault family originally ran the construction business, and the construction company run by Bernard Arnault’s father, Jean Arnault, was well-known in the French construction industry. Bernard himself was once a leading figure in the European Internet business and the founder of the British fashion retail network boo.com. In the economic downturn in the 1980s, Bernard became a hero by current events.

Perhaps relying on the French’s innate artistic cell, he did not hesitate to invest in the acquisition of the bankrupt French textile group Boussac, who knew nothing about the clothing industry, and in 1987 bought a very large amount of LVMH stock and it became the new owner of this group with more than 50 brands. He merged his own LOUIS VUITTON with MOET and HENNESSY to form today’s LVMH empire, and its brands include Marc Jacobs, LOUIS VUITTON, DIOR, GIVENCHY and so on.

The acquisition of Dior is the first step for Bernard to acquire the brand business

In 1984, 36-year-old Bernard Arnott mortgaged his family business and acquired the Dior Group, which was twice the size of the family business. The acquisition of Dior is the first step for Bernard to acquire the brand business. At that time, the Dior Group was almost in decline, but Bernard relied on his excellent management wisdom to bring Dior back to life within two years, enabling the old brand to not only maintain its own tradition, but also add an international touch.

In addition to the famous LOUIS VUITTON and Dior, the brands successfully resurrected by Bernard Arnott’s magic wand, there are many other brands. Bernard’s enthusiasm for acquiring the brand is very high.
From Pucci to LOEWE, the brands he bought are also very broad, from TAG Heuer to department store BonMarche, from the best white grapes
Chateau DY quem, the only wine producing area, to the Phillips auction house, except for GUCCI, he almost never missed it.

He sold brands was equally casual. He sold Christian Lacroix, a high-end fashion brand he founded decades ago, to the American Falic Group, which surprised the entire fashion industry. Those noble brands in Bernard’s hands seem to be playing dice. During the economic downturn, he once slowed down the pace of acquisitions. Now, the potential of the fashion industry is slowly recovering, and the entire luxury world is paying attention: When will Bernard restart a new round of acquisitions.

He has been praised by fashion magazines as the title of “Best Dressed Man” many times

Bernard Arnault, March 5, 1949, born in France, graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique de Paris, is currently the chairman and CEO of the LVMH Group, known as the “Godfather of World Luxury Goods”

The head of the world’s largest boutique empire, with a refined appearance, has been praised by fashion magazines as the title of “Best Dressed Man” many times. He is calm by nature, even a little reticent. He always smiles in front of the media and is also very low-key. But no one has ever doubted that Bernard is an unpredictable outstanding entrepreneur.

Once surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man

Remember the “Notre Dame fire” that plunged France into grief? On April 15, 2019, this precious 12th-century monument was burnt to ashes in a wailing! Bernard Arnault, as a native Frenchman, took the lead in donating a huge amount of US$650 million, vowing to rebuild this pride that belongs to France.

On January 27, 2020, Bernard Arnault’s LVMH Group donated 16 million yuan to the Chinese Red Cross to help alleviate the shortage of medical supplies urgently needed in Wuhan.

In March 2020, The parent company of LOUIS VUITTON rescues Europe against the new crown pneumonia! LVMH announced the suspension of perfume production and the “free” supply of alcohol sprays.

On May 24, 2021, according to Forbes reports, Bernard Arnott once surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man. On May 25, he was overtaken by Bezos again, ranking second, with a net worth of 187.3 billion US dollars.

In August 2021, a global event happened. The CEO of the fashion giant LVMH Group, Bernard Arnault, was promoted to the “world’s richest man” for the second time.As of August 2, Bernard Arnault’s personal wealth was 195.8 billion U.S. dollars, while Bezos’s personal wealth was 192.6 billion U.S. dollars, and their wealth value differed by only 3.2 billion U.S. dollars.

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