Bernard Arnault
Bernard Jean Etienne Arnault (born 5 March 1949 in Roubaix, Nord -Pas -de- Calais ) is a French businessman. He is with an estimated fortune of 29 billion U.S. dollars, the second richest person in France and one of the richest Europeans and ranked # 10 in the 2013 Forbes list of the richest people in the world.
The graduate engineer since 1985, majority owner of Christian Dior SA and since 1989 PDG of luxury goods group LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton ( LVMH), to which, among other brands, such as leather goods manufacturer Louis Vuitton, the champagne producer Moët & Chandon and Hennessy Cognac manufacturers include. Through its holding Groupe Arnault he owns 70.4 % of the shares of the company Christian Dior as well as through a subsidiary and own shares held in total almost 47 % of the shares of LVMH ( with over 64% of voting rights). He is also the owner of the business newspaper Les Echos.
Life
Bernard Arnault Jean Étienne was born the son of Jean Arnault and Marie- Jo Savinel. His father ran a real estate business.
After attending the Gymnasium, Arnault wrote at the École Polytechnique in Paris for engineering sciences. He resigned after completing his studies in 1971 in his father's company Ferret Savinel one. In 1973 he married Anne Dewavrin, of which he later but broke up again. He has two children with her, Delphine and Antoine. From 1978 to 1984 Arnault served as president of the company.
Arnault had great success with the construction of apartments on the Côte d' Azur. After 1981, the Socialists of France came to power in the political system under François Mitterrand, Arnault went to America. There he continued this success with apartments - for example, in Palm Beach - continued.
1984 Arnault returned back from the U.S.. The following year he first appeared as an entrepreneur with his holding company Financière Agache (later: Groupe Arnault ) into the public consciousness when he took over the ailing textile company Boussac / Saint- Frères, whose subsidiaries included the fashion company of Christian Dior. He reorganized the company and sold a large part.
In early 1987, Arnault was instrumental in the rise of Christian Lacroix, whom he brought into the fashion business. In the same year he bought the company Celine, who had specialized in leather luxury items.
In the late 1980s, Arnault acquired increasing shares of the French holding company, LVMH, in the luxury leather goods company Louis Vuitton and the spirits and perfume manufacturer Moët -Hennessy had connected. As a supporter for the Vice President Henry Racamier stepped in, Arnault had a vested interest in the Group.
In 1989, Arnault together with the investment bank Lazard Frères and the British spirits giant Guinness majority of the shares at Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton ( LVMH) and was against the will of Vuitton and Hennessy family members President of the Group.
Bernard Arnault has been married since 1991 to his second wife Hélène Mercier, with whom he has three children Alexandre, Frédéric and Jean.
In 1997, Arnault was appointed Chairman of the Board of Montaigne.
In his capacity as a major art collector Arnault founded in 2006, the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la création, for the American architect Frank O. Gehry will build an exhibition hall in Paris in the Jardin d' Acclimatation.
Private
Bernard Arnault has been collecting contemporary art and plays the piano.
With the Belgian Albert Frère Arnault has since 1998, the winery Cheval Blanc in Saint- Emilion, one of the largest Grand Cru vineyards in the Bordeaux area.
He is a friend of Nicolas Sarkozy and was also the best man at the wedding with Cécilia Sarkozy in 1996.
In early September 2012, he has requested the Belgian nationality.
Awards
Arnault received the 2007 Award of Commander ( commandeur ) and 2011 of Grand Officer (grand officier ) of the French Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit of France.