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Bernard Arnault

5 March 1949 – present

Bernard Arnault is a French businessman who has been chairman and chief executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods group, since 1989. Trained as an engineer, he entered the luxury sector by acquiring the Boussac textile group, owner of Christian Dior, in 1984, and has been ranked among the wealthiest people in the world.

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Life events

Born in Roubaix, France
5 March 1949

Bernard Jean Étienne Arnault was born into a family that owned the civil engineering firm Ferret-Savinel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Graduated from the École Polytechnique
1971

He completed an engineering degree at the École Polytechnique in Paris.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the family firm Ferret-Savinel
1971

He began working for his father's construction company, of which he became president in 1978.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Anne Dewavrin
1973 – 1990

The couple had two children, Delphine and Antoine, and divorced in 1990.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved to the United States
1981

After the election of François Mitterrand, Arnault relocated to the United States for several years, developing property in Florida.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Acquired the Boussac Saint-Frères group, owner of Christian Dior
1984

With financing from Lazard, Arnault took control of the bankrupt textile group and retained Christian Dior and the Le Bon Marché department store while selling other assets.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Became chairman and chief executive of LVMH
January 1989

After building a controlling stake during a dispute between the group's founding families, Arnault was elected chairman of the board of LVMH.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married pianist Hélène Mercier
1991

Arnault married the Canadian concert pianist Hélène Mercier; they have three sons.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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LVMH completed the acquisition of Tiffany & Co.
7 January 2021

The purchase of the American jeweller for about 15.8 billion dollars was the largest acquisition in the luxury sector.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓