Bernard Arnault, the Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, owns an impressive portfolio of castles, mansions, and villas that stretch across glamorous cities in Europe and even extend to the United States.
He is famously known as the “wolf in a cashmere coat” and holds the position of Chairman and CEO of LVMH, the conglomerate with the largest market capitalization in France. LVMH controls around 70 luxury brands, including renowned names like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Hublot.
Arnault officially joined the ranks of centibillionaires when the shares of his luxury goods company rose by 2.9% to a record high of €368.80 per share, making it the highest among the 500 members of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
He holds approximately half of LVMH’s wealth and owns around 97% of the shares of the fashion house Christian Dior, which was founded three years before his birth in 1949.
LVMH owns prestigious brands such as Louis Vuitton, Sephora, Dior, Givenchy, Fendi, Bulgari, Hublot, Rimowa, Veuve Clicquot, and many others. Therefore, it is not surprising that calculations show Bernard Arnault’s wealth is equivalent to over 3% of France’s economy.
In 2018, LVMH achieved revenue of over $53 biℓℓion through the sale of products such as Louis Vuitton leather goods and TAG Heuer watches.
Despite escalating trade tensions, Bloomberg reports that Chinese consumers are still willing to splurge on Louis Vuitton handbags and Hennessy cognac, which has contributed to the growth of revenue for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. The shares of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy have increased by 43% this year, making it the third-best-performing company in France’s CAC 40 Index.
Bernard Arnault’s estate includes castles, mansions, and villas scattered across glamorous cities in Europe, including a villa in Saint-Tropez, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in the southeast of France.
Within his residences, Arnault maintains an extensive collection of contemporary artworks by renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.
Furthermore, he is reported to have spent at least $96.4 million to acquire properties in Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Trousdale Estates, and Hollywood Hills, in the United States. Additionally, the French billionaire owns the entire Indigo Island in the Bahamas, alongside neighbors such as actor Johnny Depp and magician David Copperfield.
One of Bernard Arnault’s notable assets is the superyacht Symphony, valued at $34 million. This luxurious yacht can accommodate between 13 and 36 passengers in its six elegant cabins and features a helipad.
