Bernard Arnault is a successful French entrepreneur, for many years topping the lists of the richest people not only in France, but also in the world. Since the late 1980s, he has been the head of the LVMH group of companies and is currently its main shareholder.
short biography
Bernard Arnault, whose full name sounds like Bernard Jean Etienne Arnault, was born on March 5, 1949 in the city of Roubaix, France. His family owned Ferret-Savinel, a construction company. The head of the family business was Bernard's father, Jean Leon Arnault.
Saint Martin's Church in Roubaix Photo: Velvet / Wikimedia Commons
After completing his secondary education, he entered the Ecole Polytechnique higher educational institution, which is famous for the preparation of highly qualified specialists, and graduated in 1971 with an engineering degree.
Career and creativity
After graduating from college, Bernard Arnault joined the family business. The ambitious young man immediately began planning the expansion of the company. To begin with, he convinced his father to sell one of the company's divisions, and invest the funds in a more profitable business.
B. Arnault's speech Photo: Jeremy Barande / Wikimedia Commons
In 1981, power in France passed to the socialists and the Arnault family decided to move to the United States, where they built a successful real estate business. By 1983, the political situation in France began to change and Arno decided to return to his homeland.
During this period, the enterprising businessman acquired the bankrupt textile empire Boussac Saint-Freres, which also included the Christian Dior fashion house. In 1985, Arnault took over as CEO of Dior, and by early 1989 he controlled over 40 percent of LVMH's shares. He soon became the chairman of the executive board by unanimous decision of its members.
Donald Trump's visit to LVMH Photo: The White House from Washington, DC / Wikimedia Commons
As head of LVMH, he made personnel changes, firing several top managers. In their place were invited young talented specialists capable of revitalizing the company.
Arnault was a tough enough leader who easily fired employees who did not meet his professional expectations. Throughout the 1990s, he confidently pursued his ambitious expansion plan. In 1994, he added well-known brands to LVMH, including Sephora, Guerlain, Marc Jacobs and others.
Family and personal life
In 1973, Bernard Arnault married Anna Devavren. She supported her husband at the beginning of her career and gave him two children. But in 1990, this marriage broke up. Later, their son Antoine and daughter Dolphin linked their professional lives with the family business. Antoine Arnault is now at the head of companies such as Berluti and Loro Piana, which are part of the LVMH concern.
Dior boutique in Paris Photo: Frederic BISSON from Rouen, France / Wikimedia Commons
The second wife of Bernard Arnault was the pianist Helene Mercier. The couple got married in 1991 and in the marriage they had three sons - Alexander, Frederic and Jean. They also continue the family business.
