Son of the world's richest man worth £135billion holds SECOND wedding
Son of the world’s richest man Bernard Arnault worth £135billion holds SECOND wedding in Venice in front of Beyonce and Jay Z after first marriage in Paris three months ago
- Alexandre Arnault is second eldest son of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault
- His father overtook Jeff Bezos to become world’s richest man in May after his net worth climbed to £135bn
- Bride Géraldine Guyot is the founder of French brand D’Estrëe, which creates ‘high-end fashion accessories’
- The couple have been dating since at least August 2019 and became engaged following a proposal in Paris
The son of the world’s richest man held a second wedding in Venice on Saturday in front of Beyonce and Jay Z after his first marriage ceremony in Paris three months ago.
Alexandre Arnault is the second eldest son of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, who overtook Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man in May after his net worth climbed to £135billion ($186billion).
The 29-year-old is the executive vice president of LVMH brand Tiffany & Co., having earlier served as CEO of Rimowa – a high-quality luggage manufacturer.
His bride Géraldine Guyot is the founder of French brand D’Estrëe, which creates ‘high-end fashion accessories’, including hats and jewellery, having studied at Central Saint Martins in London before returning to Paris in 2015.
Beyonce, who attended the ceremony today alongside a string of other stars including rapper Pharrell Williams, is among her celebrity fans and the brand is sold at 100 retailers around the world.
The couple have been dating since at least August 2019 and became engaged shortly before Christmas following a romantic proposal in Paris, where they held a more intimate ceremony.
The bride looked elegant in a white wedding dress which featured a high-neck design and lace detailing as she headed to the venue surrounded by her family, with her hair tied back in a graceful updo while clutching a bouquet of cream flowers.
Alexandre Arnault and Géraldine Guyot, pictured surrounded by her family at their second wedding ceremony in Venice today, have been dating since at least August 2019 and became engaged before Christmas following a proposal in Paris
Géraldine is the founder of French accessories brand D’Estrëe, having studied at Central Saint Martins in London before returning to Paris in 2015 to found D’ESTRËE, which creates ‘high-end fashion accessories’, including hats and jewellery
At the time of their first wedding, Alexandre shared pictures on social media showing Géraldine, who was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce last year, wearing a vintage-inspired dress by JW Anderson (above) featuring a high collar, long sleeves, puffed shoulders and subtle floral embroidery
Alexandre’s father Bernard Arnault (pictured in Paris in September 2019), 72, overtook Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man in May after his net worth climbed to £135billion ($186billion)
At the time of their first wedding, Alexandre wrote: ‘It started in 1998 now it’s oui pour vie [yes for life].’
He previously shared pictures on social media showing Géraldine, who was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce last year, wearing a vintage-inspired dress by JW Anderson featuring a high collar, long sleeves, puffed shoulders and subtle floral embroidery.
Alexandre trained as an engineer, graduating from France’s Ecole Telecom ParisTech and Ecole Polytechnique. He held jobs at McKinsey & Company and KKR before joining the family business with a position at Fendi.
He was appointed to Rimowa in 2017 after he played a crucial role in LVMH’s decision to buy an 80 percent stake in the high-tech luggage maker for 640 million euros ($716 million), its first acquisition in Germany.
Under Alexandre’s four-year tenure, Rimowa paired up with sportwear brand Supreme for a collaboration and made a big social media push to draw in younger, trendier shoppers and influencers.
Analysts expect Tiffany & Co. will be given a makeover in a bid to do similar, as well as attract Asian customers.
Géraldine studied at Central Saint Martins in London before returning to Paris in 2015 to found D’ESTRËE, which creates ‘high-end fashion accessories’, including hats and jewellery
The bride looked elegant in a white wedding dress which featured a high-neck design and lace detailing as she headed to the venue surrounded by her family, with her hair tied back in a graceful updo while clutching a bouquet of cream flowers
Big day: The bride looked elegant in her white wedding dress as she headed to the venue with her bridesmaids clutching her bouquet of flowers
Beyonce, who wore blue heels, a glitzy round bag and silver necklaces as she attended the ceremony with Jay Z today, is among Géraldine’s celebrity fans. The French accessories brand D’Estrëe is sold at 100 retailers around the world
A host of other stars including rapper Pharrell Williams (far right), 48, were also in attendance at the wedding on Saturday
How Bernard Arnault made his billions
Arnault was born in France into the world of business and began his lucrative luxury career in 1971, working for the family real estate company Ferret-Savinel.
He was promoted to chairman in 1978, and remained in that role until 1984 when he was tasked with restructuring the Financière Agache holding company.
Within this role, the father-of-five strategised on developing leading luxury brands, acquiring Christian Dior as the spearhead of the new business.
LVMH was formed in 1987 under the merger of Louis Vuitton and champagne producer Moët Hennessy.
In 1989 Arnault became the majority shareholder of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a role he has held ever since.
His prestigious portfolio includes fashion labels such as Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and FENTY, luxury wines and spirits and champagne and wine brands, and perfumes and cosmetics.
LVHM owns 70+ brands and spent $3.2billion in 2019 on luxury hospitality group Belmond and acquired Tiffany & Co. for $15.8billion in January.
The company website says the LVHM model is ‘based on a long-term vision’ which ‘stimulates creativity and excellence.’
The company has around 163,000 employees and reported more than $58billion-worth of revenue in 2019.
The billionaire is married to pianist Hélène Mercier, who he shares children Alexandre, Frédéric and Jean with.
He was previously wed to Anne Dewavrin, 71, until 1990, and the pair share two children – Antoine and Delphine
Alexandre will work under Michael Burke, chairman and CEO at Louis Vuitton, the group’s biggest money spinner, who will now also chair Tiffany & Co. Anthony Ledru, head of Louis Vuitton in the US, will take over as CEO of the jeweller.
His father Bernard Arnault, 72, saw his fortune jump more than $110billion in the 14 months up to May thanks to his French luxury goods firm LVMH, which owns the likes of Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Christian Dior and Givenchy in its portfolio of 70 plus luxury brands.
The multi-billionaire, who has five children from two marriages, has given senior LVMH roles to his four oldest children. His youngest son Jean is still a student.
Only daughter Delphine is director and executive vice president of Louis Vuitton; eldest son Antoine who married Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova last year, is CEO of Berluti and oversees image, communications and the environment for LVMH; and third son Frédéric is CEO of Tag Heuer.
Each appointment is closely watched for signs of who their billionaire father might one day appoint as his successor.
Bernard Arnault is building a fair process between the Arnault siblings by testing them,’ Philippe Pele-Clamour, adjunct professor at business school HEC Paris, previously told Bloomberg.
‘That will allow them to understand if they can lead such a group.’
He also invested in Netflix back in 1999 while he also entered the yacht business and bought Princess Yachts in 2008.
Showing off his interest in yachts, he owns the stunning $150million superyacht Symphony, which measures 101.5m, carries 20 passengers and boasts an outdoor cinema and jacuzzi.
He lives in a 150-year-old castle in northwest Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, France, that has belonged to the billionaire’s family since 1998, while he also owns a home in the prestigious Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez enclave.
Among his portfolio, Arnault also boasts around five homes in Beverly Hills, worth around $125million in total, two of which are in the the Trousdale Estates neighborhood, according to Capitalism.com.
Meanwhile, the publication reported that Arnault also bought a private island in the Bahamas for $35million, which is called Indigo Island and measures 133 acres.
The newlyweds, who announced their engagement at the start of the year, both shared photos of their first intimate ceremony (above) on social media, with Alexandre writing: ‘It started in 1998 now it’s oui pour vie [yes for life]’
The couple pictured during their first wedding ceremony in Paris. Alexandre will work under Michael Burke, chairman and CEO at Louis Vuitton, the group’s biggest money spinner, who will now also chair Tiffany & Co
The bride changed into a second number for the evening reception during their first wedding ceremony, with Alexandre sharing a photo of their romantic first dance on Instagram
Alexandre shared a snap of his wedding ring (pictured above) on his finger in the days after the first wedding ceremony. He held jobs at McKinsey & Company and KKR before joining the family business with a position at Fendi
The couple announced their engagement on social media at the start of the year after a romantic Paris proposal (above) shortly before Christmas
Jet-setters: The couple (pictured left and right, in Japan together) have been dating since at least August 2019, when Alexandre first shared a photo of Paris-based Geraldine on Instagram
LVMH also owns Cheval Blanc Courchevel, a glamorous skiing hotel located near the Trois Vallées, which has 36 stunning rooms and suites, three restaurants, one bar and a fitness center.
The fashion mogul has also splashed out on a Dassault Falcon 7X private jet, which has a list price of around $57million, with his vast billionaire fortune. He previously owned a Bombardier Global Express high speed aircraft.
His rise in fortune came after he acquired Tiffany & Co. for $15.8billion in January. After the purchase, the fashion tycoon promoted Alexandre to the leadership team of the jewellery maker.
Sharing the news on Instagram earlier this year, Alexandre, who was born in France but is fluent in English, wrote: ‘Humbled, honored to join @tiffanyandco and excited to work with the teams in New York!’
LVMH’s acquisition of Tiffany & Co. followed a bitter legal dispute. LVMH backed away as the COVID-19 pandemic hammered luxury goods sales, but ultimately renegotiated a discounted purchase price.
Front row seats: The billionaire (second from right) with sons Alexandre (second from left) and Frederic, daughter Delphine (right) and model Bella Hadid (left) in Paris in 2020
Fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault (pictured with wife Hélène Mercier), 72, crept ahead of Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man after his net worth climbed to $186.3billion
Arnault has five children – Alexandre (not pictured), Frédéric (far right), and Jean (not pictured), who he shares with second wife Helene (second right), Antoine (second left) and Delphine (not pictured), with first wife Anne Dewavrin, 71. Also pictured: Model Natalia Vodianova
LVMH also owns Cheval Blanc Courchevel (pictured), a glamorous skiing hotel located near the Trois Vallées, which has 36 stunning rooms and suites and three restaurants
With his fortune, Arnault also boasts a stunning $150million superyacht called Symphony (above) which measures 101.5 metres, carries 20 passengers and includes an outdoor cinema
Source: Read Full Article
