Summer Series: How Bernard Arnault became the world's richest man

The podcast is on holiday right now so we are replaying some of our favourite episodes as part of a summer series.

In March, The Fin spoke with the Australian Financial Review’s Fashion editor Lauren Sams, who was in Paris for fashion week at the time, about the rising fortunes of Bernard Arnault. The founder of luxury fashion powerhouse LVMH, had recently become the first European to rise to the top of the world’s rich lists, knocking tech titan Elon Musk off his perch.

Alas, his time at the top was not to last. A recovery in Tesla’s shareprice reinstalled Musk in the number one spot a few months after Lauren was on the podcast. But Arnault’s fortune has continued to rise. LVMH is a giant with more than 70 brands, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Tiffany and Sephora. And there is speculation in recent weeks of more deals to come.

So please enjoy this discussion with Lauren and AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond on the big business of luxury fashion.

Background reading:

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/here-s-what-you-ll-be-wearing-in-2023-20230306-p5cplq

http://afr.com/women-of-influence/grit-and-gut-instinct-take-women-to-top-of-fashion-world-20230226-p5cnqm

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/bernard-arnault-promotes-daughter-delphine-in-lvmh-reshuffle-20230112-p5cc7s

https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/the-secret-to-zimmermann-s-31-year-success-staying-in-its-lane-20220606-p5arex

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