Bernard Arnault

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**Bernard Arnault**

Born:	March 5, 1949
Occupation:	Chairman, LVMH Chairman, Christian Dior SA
Net worth:	$26 billion US dollar
Website:	LVMH.com

Bernard Arnault (born 5 March 1949) is a French businessman. He is the 7th richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $26 billion US dollars, according to a Forbes report in March 2007.^[1]

Bernard Arnault is a native of Roubaix, and graduated with an engineering degree from the École Polytechnique in 1971 (X1969).

1 Business activities
2 Competitors
3 Controversies
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Business activities

As at March 2007, Arnault owns a 47.5% majority^[2] of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), along with Christian Dior SA. Arnault is the Chairman and CEO of both companies.

His daughter Delphine Arnault is actively involved in the management of LVMH.

Arnault also owned the art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company from 1999 to 2003.

[edit] Competitors

Arnault's main competitors are:

French businessman François Pinault, whose holding company PPR owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Sergio Rossi, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Roger & Gallet, Bédat & Co and Christie's.

Swiss-based Richemont, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Baume et Mercier, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, Officine Panerai, Vacheron Constantin, Dunhill, Lancel, Montblanc, Montegrappa, Old England, Purdey, Chloé, and Shanghai Tang.

[edit] Controversies

In January 2007 Kathryn Blair, the daughter of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, graduated from France's prestigious Sorbonne University with 71 percent in an intensive French language and culture course. Tony Blair has been criticised for accepting an invitation on her behalf from Bernard Arnault since during her course, which ran from 12 October 2006 to 26 January 2007, she is thought to have been provided with an accommodation, security and transport package worth around £80,000.^[3]