Bernard Arnault’s net worth stands at $201.6 billion as of January 28, 2025, according to Forbes. He currently ranks as the fifth richest billionaire, as per Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. France-based Arnault was on the numero uno spot for years together until 2024, when his fortune slumped along with a plunge in his luxury goods portfolio.
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Arnault’s Wealth Creation Timeline
- 1997 – $3.6 billion
- 2005 – $20 billion
- 2015 – $37.2 billion
- 2020 – $76 billion
- 2021 – $150 billion
- 2023 – $211 billion
- 2024 – $233 billion
Arnault’s Journey of Wealth Creation
Arnault has treaded a long but successful path to creating this massive wealth from the humble acquisition of the Christion Dior brand in 1984. Today, he is the proud owner of over 75 luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon champagne, Tiffany & Co., Givenchy, Hublot, Tag Heuer, and Sephora, among others. The acquisition of most of these brands reflects Arnault’s keen eye for solid businesses and a penchant for luxury.
Remarkably, Arnault’s main fortune comes from his 48% ownership in his family business, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMUY) (FR:MC). He is the chairman and CEO of LVMH, while all of his five children also work at the fashion conglomerate. A majority of his stake in LVMH is held indirectly by his other investment firm, Financiere Agache, which also oversees the investment of the entire Arnault family.
His stake in LVMH helped him to retain his top spot in the billionaire’s list. However, in 2024, LVMH shares declined by around 16%, making Arnault lose roughly $53 billion in net worth. In the first half of Fiscal 2024, LVMH’s revenues fell, especially in the Wine and Spirits segment, dragging down its stock price.
There’s More to Arnault Than Just Brands
Arnault, indeed, has a passion for collecting modern and contemporary art such as those of Pablo Picasso, investing in real estate, and like all billionaires, he has an air for being a philanthropist. He also owns a big yacht and a private jet. Born to a business family and having studied engineering at one of Paris’ most elite colleges, Ecole Polytechnique de Paris, Arnault alone is responsible for taking LVMH to such magnificent heights.
Interestingly, he is known to be a shrewd businessman. Building a successful fashion empire spanning 75 luxury brands is no joke. No wonder, Arnault has had to make some tough corporate decisions, which have not gone down well in history. He has earned a few nicknames for his business acumen, including “The Pope of Fashion,” and “The Wolf in the Cashmere Coat.”
Ending Thoughts
Even at 75, Arnault does not seem to stop, he asked the LVMH board to extend his retirement age to 80 and claims to be working 12 hours a day. Arnault is all but old, staying in tune with the latest trends and booming market. Arnault’s family office invested in five AI startups in 2024. There is no looking back for this billionaire. Down to number 5, Arnault might not give up until he regains the number one spot on the world’s billionaire’s list.
