Featured
Arnault Gets $4.3 Billion Richer in a Day, Closing In on Buffett
Bernard Arnault, the world’s fourth-richest person, added $4.3 to his fortune Wednesday as Chinese consumers’ growing appetite for handbags and Hennessy cognac boosted results at LVMH.
Shares of his Paris-based luxury-goods maker surged 6.9 percent, the most since mid-2016, as fourth-quarter profit topped analysts’ estimates on strong demand from China, the world’s second-largest economy. Arnault controls about half of LVMH through a family holding company, Groupe Arnault SE.
His wealth has surged $8.3 billion since the start of the year and now stands at $76.9 billion, putting him within striking distance of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chairman Warren Buffett, who’s currently ranked third on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with $84.8 billion. Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, added $6.1 billion to his net worth Wednesday, while No. 2 Bill Gates, the Microsoft Inc. co-founder, gained $889.4 million.
LVMH’s stake in luxury fashion house Cristian Dior SE comprises most of Arnault’s fortune. Bernard Arnault moved into luxury goods in 1984, taking over the bankrupt textile group that owned Christian Dior. He sold the company’s other businesses and used the proceeds to buy a controlling stake in LVMH. Last month, the company agreed to acquire high-end hotel operator Belmond Ltd. in a deal that values the owner of New York’s ‘21’ Club at $2.6 billion.
Arnault has never ranked higher than fourth on the Bloomberg wealth ranking, which could see more of a shakeup near the top Thursday. Shares of Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Inc. surged 12 percent in extended trading at 5:25 p.m. in New York after the company posted sales and profit that smashed estimates. Zuckerberg, currently the world’s seventh-richest person, is poised to jump to No. 5, leapfrogging Spain’s Amancio Ortega and Mexico’s Carlos Slim.
-
Banking & Finance3 weeks agoOman Oil Marketing Company Concludes Its Annual Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Week, Reaffirming People and Safety as a Top Priority
-
News2 months agoSheikh Suhail Bahwan, Chairman of Suhail Bahwan Group, Passes Away
-
News2 months agoOIG Appoints New CEO to Lead Its Next Chapter of Excellence
-
News1 month agoReport: How India & The Middle East Are Exploiting Immense Economic Synergies
-
Uncategorized1 month agoOman’s ISWK Cambridge Learners Achieve ‘Top in the World’ and National Honours in June 2025 Cambridge Series
-
Trade2 months agoConsulate Office of the Republic of South Africa opens in Muscat, enhancing bilateral relations
-
Economy1 month agoPrime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Visit the Sultanate of Oman on 17-18 December
-
News3 weeks agoJamal Ahmed Al Harthy Honoured as ‘Pioneer in Youth Empowerment through Education and Sport’ at CSR Summit & Awards 2025

You must be logged in to post a comment Login