Rich Dudes│Fashion Mogul Bernard Arnault’s Luxurious $239B Net Worth
Bernard Arnault is the world's wealthiest person, with a net worth of $239 billion. He's built an empire in the luxury goods market.
Updated May 23, 2023
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Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault—the 74-year-old French business magnate behind LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods maker—is no stranger to success.
After nearly four decades of legendary business acumen, Bernard has built a net worth of over $239 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the world's wealthiest person ahead of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Since the 1990s, Bernard Arnault has backed technology companies to the tune of billions—like the $3.4 billion funding… through his venture capital firm Aglaé Ventures.
Born in the northern French town of Roubaix in 1949, Bernard brought his five adult children into LVMH, resulting in a family-run empire that includes Delphine Arnault as the CEO of Dior. With a staggering $83.4 billion annual revenue in 2022, the Arnault name has made its mark on the luxury goods market.
Bernard Arnault net worth at a glance
Net worth | $239 billion |
Born | March 5, 1949 |
Nationality | French born in Roubaix, France |
Became a millionaire at | Around 34 |
Occupations | Business magnate, investor, and art collector |
Sources of wealth | LVMH Moet Hennessy Lois Vuitton SA |
Asset classes | Real estate, startups, stocks, art |
How Bernard Arnault made his money
How Bernard Arnault made his money
The world's richest businessman Bernard Arnault forged a distinguished career in the business and luxury sector.
The tycoon took the engineering firm he inherited from his father and turned it into a real estate company, led a successful takeover of a textile and retail conglomerate, and then went on to mastermind the formation of the world-renowned family holding company: LVMH.
Fueled by his ambition, Arnault steered the firm to unparalleled success—increasing revenue fivefold, doubling profits, and making it the largest company in the eurozone by a staggering market capitalization of $382 billion.
The French billionaire bulldozed his competition by acquiring a series of fashion-related companies and turned them into LVMH brands, including fashion house Christian Dior SE, Wilentz, Sephora, TAG Heuer, and Tiffany & Co., while still successfully preserving their identities as independent firms.
How Bernard Arnault invests
How Bernard Arnault invests
Bernard Arnault ranks among the wealthiest of them all. He has made major splurges from his $96 million real estate investments to his 330-piece art collection. And, of course, Arnault had to top it off with a private island in the Bahamas.
Here's an overview of Bernard Arnault’s asset portfolio.
Real estate
The world’s richest billionaire's extensive property portfolio includes a French castle, multiple Beverly Hills homes, and about $96 million in residences—and he shows no sign of stopping. Notable properties include a 41-hectare estate in Bordeaux and the private Indigo Island in the Bahamas.
He's invested $30 million in a home and planned hotel in the iconic Rodeo Drive and built a sprawling 4,300 sq.m. luxury villa on Lyn Park, a 318-acre plot near London.
Bernard Arnault’s private “Indigo Island” in the Bahamas.
Source: capital.fr
Real estate investing can be lucrative, despite rising inflation. Prices are predicted to appreciate over time, making them an attractive option for investors.
Current inflation is around 6.04%, far above the Federal Reserve's target rate, and sits at a long-term average of 3.28%. Based on the economic forecast, real estate looks to be one of the most viable investment assets in 2023.
Art
Bernard Arnault's diverse art portfolio is worth millions and features works by renowned artists like Warhol, Basquiat, Hirst, and Picasso. Housing over 330 pieces by 120 artists in his Paris home, his 18th through 20th-century art collection is one of the most extensive and valuable in the world.
Arnault's prestigious art investments have earned him titles such as Grand Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and the David Rockefeller Prize at the MoMA in New York.
Bernard Arnault boasts a collection of 330 works from artists like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Pablo Picasso.
Source: lvmh.com
The global art market is projected to reach $682 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 4.2%. With an art transaction value increase of 17% in 2021, the outlook for art investments is positive, with potentially double-digit returns.
Startups & stocks
Since the 1990s, Bernard Arnault has backed technology companies to the tune of billions—like the $3.4 billion he has poured into 65 rounds of funding through his venture capital firm Aglaé Ventures.
Arnault is known to back some of the most valuable companies in Europe, like France's Back Market, valued at a massive $5.7 billion. Through Aglaé Ventures, Bernard Arnault has invested in the likes of Netflix, TikTok (AKA ByteDance), Databricks, and Back Market.
Arnault recently made news with LVMH's purchase of Tiffany & Co. for a record-breaking $15.8 billion in 2021, the largest acquisition in luxury brand history.
From marketplaces and SaaS to digitally native brands, Bernard Arnault has backed some of the most progressive startups of our time. He continues to support high-growth startups during every stage of their journey, from pre-IPO to Series-B rounds.
Planes and yachts
This billionaire has invested in extravagant luxury assets, such as his $150 million superyacht Symphony. Besides this, he has acquired several other impressive vessels as well as his Dutch and British yacht-making firms.
Bernard Arnault’s reportedly bought this 344-foot superyacht Symphony for $150 million.
Source: luxurylaunches.com
In addition to watercraft, he previously owned two Bombardier jets and now has a $40 million Dassault Falcon 7X. The custom-built Symphony, a summerhouse on the sea, features opulent interiors and fun amenities, accommodating 20 guests and a 38-person crew.
Bernard Arnault investing quotes
Bernard Arnault investing quotes
As the world's wealthiest person, Bernard Arnault's net worth is derived from a diverse portfolio of investment assets that have shaped his unique perspective on building and sustaining wealth.
From luxury goods giant LVMH—which owns brands like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Tag Heuer—to real estate acquisitions on Paris's Left Bank, his success story demonstrates the importance of seizing opportunities and taking calculated risks.
The top spot on the billionaires' list is not earned easily—Bernard Arnault's insight offers valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors looking to boost their net worth.