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100 Most Powerful People in Business

Bernard Arnault

Bernard Arnault, billionaire and chairman of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, at the Viva Tech fair in Paris, France, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Viva Tech gathers startups, investors and executives from several countries and has become France's leading event in technology and innovation. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bernard Arnault, billionaire and chairman of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, at the Viva Tech fair in Paris, France, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Viva Tech gathers startups, investors and executives from several countries and has become France's leading event in technology and innovation. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesNathan Laine—Bloomberg/Getty Images
  • Company/Affiliation
    LVMH
  • Title
    CEO and Chairman

LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault was the richest person in the world at the start of 2024. While a drop in LVMH’s stock price (thanks in part to slower demand in the Chinese market) bumped him out of the top spot, he remains a global force in luxury at LVMH, where he has held both chairman and CEO roles since 1989. The conglomerate has built an enviable stable of brands that cater to the ultrarich, including Tiffany & Co., Christian Dior, Fendi, Sephora, and many more. In fiscal 2023, the luxury goods group brought in around $93 billion in revenue, up about 8.8% from 2022. All of its business groups saw growth, except for wine and spirits. Meanwhile, when it comes to the company’s future, a Succession-worthy drama has been brewing as Arnault ages. His children—including Delphine Arnault, who is No. 39 on Fortune’s 2024 list of Most Powerful Women—have all been involved in some aspect of the business, and there is intense speculation about who will take over when he bows out.