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Meet Antoine Arnault, billionaire Bernard Arnault’s eldest son: he runs Loro Piana and Berluti, is married to supermodel Natalia Vodianova and is a world-class poker player – could he inherit LVMH?

Antoine Arnault is LVMH boss Bernard Arnault’s eldest son – could he take over the brand? Photo: Getty Images
Antoine Arnault is LVMH boss Bernard Arnault’s eldest son – could he take over the brand? Photo: Getty Images

  • Like his younger brothers Alexandre and Frédéric Arnault, Antoine sees promise in NFTs, crypto and the metaverse, and used augmented and virtual reality to promote Berluti in China
  • Arnault first laid eyes on Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova at a Louis Vuitton fashion shoot in 2008, but they didn’t marry until 2020 – they now have two children

French businessman Antoine Arnault is the eldest son of LVMH CEO and chairman Bernard Arnault. He came on board the world’s No 1 luxury group in his 20s, eventually taking charge of the empire’s communication and image – their galaxy of brands include Dior, Marc Jacobs, Fendi and Louis Vuitton.

While Antoine’s 73-year-old billionaire dad could extend his reign at LVMH until he turns 80, the luxury tycoon will still eventually have to name a successor.

So is Antoine the most worthy heir to his father’s throne? Let’s get to know him better.

He’s the eldest son of Europe’s richest person

Antoine Arnault began working for the family business when he was still in his 20s. Photo: @antoinearnault/Instagram
Antoine Arnault began working for the family business when he was still in his 20s. Photo: @antoinearnault/Instagram
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Born on June 4, 1977, Antoine is the eldest son of Bernard Arnault and his first wife, Anne Dewavrin. He’s the younger brother of Delphine, and older brother to three half-siblings Alexandre, Frédéric and Jean, from Bernard’s second marriage to Hélène Mercier.
Antoine Arnault’s family includes younger brother Alexandre Arnault (far left), brother Frédéric (far right) and their mum Hélène Mercier; Antoine is Bernard Arnault (second left)’s eldest son. Photo: @alexandrearnault/Instagram
Antoine Arnault’s family includes younger brother Alexandre Arnault (far left), brother Frédéric (far right) and their mum Hélène Mercier; Antoine is Bernard Arnault (second left)’s eldest son. Photo: @alexandrearnault/Instagram

Antoine’s resume doesn’t only boast positions at LVMH. At 25, he co-founded an internet start-up called Domainoo, which specialised in internet domain names, according to Fashion Network.

The HEC Montreal and INSEAD alum eventually worked his way up the family business ladder – beginning at LVMH’s advertising department, and finally sitting on its board.

He’s married to a Russian supermodel and philanthropist

LVMH communications head Antoine Arnault and his Russian model wife Natalia Vodianova at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, in January. Photo: AFP
LVMH communications head Antoine Arnault and his Russian model wife Natalia Vodianova at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week, in January. Photo: AFP

Antoine was instantly smitten with Russian-born supermodel and UN Goodwill Ambassador Natalia Vodianova when they met on the set of a Louis Vuitton campaign in 2008, he told W magazine in 2017.

However, it wasn’t until 2011, when Antoine read of Vodianova’s divorce from her first husband and British aristocrat Justin Portman, that he asked her out.

Antoine Arnault and Natalia Vodianova finally got married at a registry office in Paris, in 2020. Photo: @natasupernova/Instagram
Antoine Arnault and Natalia Vodianova finally got married at a registry office in Paris, in 2020. Photo: @natasupernova/Instagram

The fashion power couple tied the knot in 2020 in a surprisingly low-key ceremony at a registry office in Paris after their initial celebration was scuppered by Covid-19. Vodianova has three children from her previous marriage and shares two sons with Antoine.

He’s also in charge of Berluti and Loro Piana