FranceInherited and grew it
Bernard Arnault
Bernard Arnault is chairman and CEO of LVMH, the luxury goods group his family controls through holding companies; nearly all of the family fortune is that stake.
- Forbes estimate
- $119B
- Forbes, 8 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 7
- date not stated
- Stake in LVMH
- 50.33%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $133B
- Bloomberg, 13 Oct 2026
- Born
- 5 Mar 1949
- Roubaix, France
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- École polytechnique
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
LVMH stock, held mainly through Christian Dior and the family holding Agache
LVMH
luxury goods, founded 1987
66.27% of the votes
Arnault family group total, not a personal direct stake; Bloomberg puts his stake at about 49%
Christian Dior SE announcement, 23 Sep 2026
Chairman and CEO
Other holdings
Groupe Arnault
Family holding company; he chairs its board
L Catterton
Private equity firm, 40% jointly owned by LVMH and Groupe Arnault
Paris FC
Agache bought a majority stake in 2024, per Forbes
Aglaé Ventures
Venture firm backed by Agache, per Forbes
Where Bernard stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Bernard Arnault is outlined.
How the fortune started
Inherited and grew it
Inherited and grew it 12
Founded it 42
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Fashion and beauty
Fashion and beauty 4
Technology 24
Finance 10
Several industries 9
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Crypto 2
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree 27
Graduate degree 24
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Runs the company
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
Founder, no executive role 8
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 5 Mar 1949Roubaix, France
- Citizenship
- France
- Lives in
- Paris, France
- Education
- Bachelor's degreeÉcole polytechnique
- Parents
- Born to an industrial family; his father ran a construction business
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Fondation Louis VuittonCreated by the LVMH group, announced by Arnault in 2006; a corporate foundation rather than a personal one
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Runs the companyChairman and CEO of LVMH; chairman of Groupe Arnault
- Successor
- None named; all five children hold roles
- Public office
- None found
- Legal record
- 2026, Paris Administrative Court of AppealThe court ordered him and his wife to pay about 22.5 million euros in additional taxes, social contributions, penalties and interest for 2010 and in wealth tax for 2012 to 2015, reversing a 2020 judgment; his representatives said they would appeal to the Conseil d'État.
