The owner of the LVMH company, the French billionaire Bernard Arnault, is one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He is number 1 in the generation of luxury goods, the Arno company controls dozens of well-known brands that produce clothing, accessories, alcohol, and jewelry.
The way to success
The French billionaire was born on March 5, 1949, into the family of a successful businessman. From a young age, the boy admired luxurious things, understood fashion trends, and art, and appreciated good wines.
Arnault is the number one figure in the world of luxury and wealth production. His company controls over 60 fashionable and world-famous brands: Kenzo, Givenchy, Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior, Celine, Loewe, Berluti, and Guerlain.
And this significant list can be continued with the names of alcohol brands and jewelry companies. Arnault continues to actively buy up companies and brands around the world, sincerely believing that he is doing this for the sake of creativity and excellence.
Bernard was trained since childhood for the family business at the Ferret-Savinel construction company in the north of France in the city of Roubaix. From the age of seven, his grandfather took him to construction sites so that his grandson realized how important hard work is and felt a taste for entrepreneurship.
In 1971, Bernard graduated from the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris and received an engineering degree, but practically did not work in his specialty. Having become a partner of his father in the family construction company, he became its head 4 years later. But Bernard Arnault dreamed of more, so he sold the family business without even informing his father. After moving to America, Arno saw new perspectives and a different scale of doing business than at home.
The first thing he did on the road to wealth, acquired the Christian Dior brand. Later he replaced the main designer Gianfranco Ferre with John Galliano, which created a great resonance in the fashion world. The Arno empire continues to grow today. He is still the most active buyer of brands. And there is a clever calculation in this. After all, the luxury goods market remains robust despite all the economic turmoil.
On the contrary, new consumers are appearing among the fast-growing middle classes of Russia, China, and India. Arnault predicts that in ten years, these countries will purchase about a third of all elite goods. The businessman also had new plans – Bernard began to actively invest in Internet enterprises. And although there is still a long way to profit here, Arno believes that the undertaking has great prospects. It guarantees that humanity, even in a hundred years, will drink champagne of famous brands, but what kind of Internet it will use remains a mystery.
There is an opinion that business and art are hardly compatible concepts. Bernard refutes this claim. Among his ancestors are the Renaissance painters, the royal portrait painters, and the brothers Jean and François Clouet. Many people in the Arno family collected paintings.
Personal life
Bernard could also become a successful virtuoso pianist. After performing Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude, he fell in love with Canadian pianist Helene Mercier, whom they married in 1991. At that time, Bernard goes to spend time playing the piano. He is sure that it is not enough to be talented, you need to be super talented. Bernard Arnault has two children from his first marriage. They are already old enough and take an active part in their father’s business. From his second marriage to a Canadian pianist, he had three boys. Bernard desires that his three youngest sons will one day enroll in the family business. And the heir will be the one who, in his opinion, will most match this status.
His personal life has not interested scandalous journalists for a long time. No ugly scandals in secular society, no intrigues with top models – simple family happiness with a kindred person. The billionaire spends his leisure time much more traditionally: horse riding and tennis.
His wife makes friends with powerful people, for instance, with the former first lady of France, Bernadette Chirac. And Arno himself prefers to communicate during his leisure hours with the same famous and successful businessmen as himself. Bernard Arnault celebrates birthdays with friends, treating them to their favorite dishes, and instead of table toasts, his beloved classical music sounds.
Charity
Bernard Arnault is also known for his charitable deeds. He helps people with disabilities by studying at the Academy of Fine Arts and sponsors art galleries. His company spares no expense in seeking out new talent in the world of business and the arts. Bernard Arnault is a successful businessman, he is truly admired and respected by many people. It remains just to envy his excellent performance, entrepreneurial intuition, and numerous gifts.
