Bernard Arnault
Arnault didn’t build luxury — he bought it, branded it, and insulated it from market logic.
On business.briefs
LVMH
Bernard Arnault · 1987
LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate formed in 1987 by merger—not founded—of Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy. Bernard Arnault assumed control shortly thereafter, not by founding but by outmanoeuvring the initial family owners. The company operates through ~60 subsidiaries managing 75 luxury brands across six branches. Its $500B valuation in April 2023 reflects disciplined acquisition—Boussac Saint-Frères (1984), Tiffany & Co. (2021)—and structural decentralisation that preserves brand identity while centralising financial control. LVMH does not invent luxury; it acquires, integrates, and governs it.