Bernard Arnault vs. Francois Pinault: Who Is the World’s Most Dominant French Billionaire?

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Archrivals Fran?ois Pinault and Bernard Arnault have competed for dominance on the global luxury-goods stage for decades. After numerous battles, the LVMH and Kering head honchos continue to fight for market share and status. Still, for all their quarreling, France’s richest men have more in common than perhaps they’d like to admit. Then again, that might be part of the problem.

 

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STARTED FROM…

The middle. After graduating from a prestigious university,
Arnault took the helm of his father’s construction company.

STARTED FROM…

The bottom. Born into a peasant family,
Pinault dropped out of high school.

AGE

70

AGE

83

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

156,000

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

30,595

LOFTY SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Reduce LVMH’s CO2 emissions by 25 percent by 2020.

LOFTY SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Reduce Kering’s CO2 emissions by 50 percent by 2025.

SUPERPOWER BRAND

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Logo

SUPERPOWER BRAND

Gucci

Gucci Logo

AFTER NOTRE DAME FIRE, IMMEDIATELY PLEDGED

$222 million

AFTER NOTRE DAME FIRE, IMMEDIATELY PLEDGED

$111 million

CLAIM TO MUSEUM FAME

The $166 million La Maison LVMH/Arts-Talents-Patrimoine in Paris,
designed by Frank Gehry, will open its doors in 2020.

La Maison LVMH/Arts-Talents-Patrimoine in Paris, designed by Frank Gehry

CLAIM TO MUSEUM FAME

The $170 million Bourse de Commerce, slated to open in 2020,
will showcase works from Pinault’s personal art collection.

Bourse de Commerce, slated to open in Paris in 2020,

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Herme?s. LVMH relentlessly tried to take over the family-held
brand before giving up the chase in 2014.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Tom Ford. The fashion magnate left his post as creative director of
Gucci and Saint Laurent in 2004 after a public conflict with Pinault.

ENVIABLE WINE ESTATE

Cha?teau d’Yquem, a legendary dessert-wine maison,
of which Arnault and LVMH are the majority owners.

Dark grapes, Isolated on white background; Shutterstock ID 299697119; Notes: duel

ENVIABLE WINE ESTATE

Clos de Tart, a Burgundy grand cru property for which
he paid more than $230 million.

Black and green grapes isolated on a white background. The pattern of grapes of different varieties, top view. Food background.; Shutterstock ID 1072452311; Notes: Duel

NET WORTH

$103 billion

NET WORTH

$31 billion

 

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