Will Bernard Arnault’s son Antoine succeed his dad at LVMH? The billionaire heir replaces Christian Dior SE CEO Sidney Toledano and helmed a recent ad with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Dec 12 , 2022

LVMH’s CEO Bernard Arnault (left) just elevated his son Antoine to a bigger role, prompting discussion about succession plans. Photo: AFP

LVMH billionaire Bernard Arnault, who’s challenging Elon Musk for the world’s richest man title, has elevated his eldest son Antoine to CEO and vice-chairman of Christian Dior SE

Arnault has four other kids – Delphine, Alexandre, Frédéric and Jean – who also have roles at the company that runs Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co., Celine and Loewe

Billionaire Bernard Arnault elevated his eldest son, Antoine, to a broader role within the world’s largest luxury conglomerate in a move that will spark fresh speculation about succession at LVMH.

World’s biggest luxury goods company LVMH’s CEO Bernard Arnault (left) and his son Antoine visit the world leader for the production of Cognac Hennessy’s new bottling plant in Salles-d’Angles, in October 2017. Photo: AFP

Antoine Arnault, 45, is replacing Sidney Toledano, 71, as chief executive officer and vice-chairman of Christian Dior SE, the holding company through which the family controls LVMH.

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Europe’s most valuable company

A chocolate factory, ephemeral restaurants, cafes and even, perhaps, a hotel: the world’s leading luxury brand Louis Vuitton, which wants to be “more than a fashion brand, a culture brand”, is accelerating its diversification to better “extend its territory”. Photo: AFP

The move gives Antoine an increasingly prominent role within Europe’s most valuable company, with a market capitalisation of US$384 billion (364 billion euros) and a sprawling portfolio of high-end brands ranging from Louis Vuitton to Dom Perignon Champagne.

Antoine Arnault, CEO of Berluti, attends the autumn/winter 2019-2020 collection show for fashion house Berluti during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris, France, in January 2019. Photo: Reuters

It’ll also revive one of the favourite parlour games in Paris – talk of which of Bernard’s five children will succeed the 73-year-old LVMH chief once he hands over the reins of the empire he began building more than three decades ago.