The world’s richest person in 2023, French billionaire Bernard Arnault, married pianist Hélène Mercier in 1991.
The pianist and LVMH founder Bernard Arnault (74 years old) met at a 1989 dinner party.
“I always wanted to be #1. I failed at piano and tennis. Success is having all my firms be world-leading “Arnault told the Financial Times in 2019.
Although Arnault did not “succeed” as a professional pianist, his wife was drawn to his playing. The Financial Times reports that Bernard Arnault demonstrated his concert-level piano talents on his dates with Mercier. His repertoire included Chopin and other classical composers.
Mercier told the Wall Street Journal in 2009: “Bernard’s hands were shaking, he was almost dead with fear when he met me, but he was determined to go all the way.”
After 30 years of marriage, they had three sons: Alexandre, Frédéric, and Jean. With ex-wife Anne Dewavrin, Arnault has daughter Delphine and son Antoine.
Canadian pianist Hélène Mercier (64), from Montreal, is successful. She started playing at 6 at Vincent d’Indy Music School. At a young age, she won the Quebec and Canadian Music Competitions and the International Chamber Music Competition in Prague. She attended Julliard to study music.
Mercier has performed with prominent artists like Vladimir Spivakov, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Brigitte Engerer.
She shared her love of music with her children, who never followed in her footsteps but felt supported in their careers.
In 2018, son Alexandre Arnault told The New York Times: “My mother always stated she would support us as musicians. I didn’t know if my dad would approve. He adored the piano.”
Alexandre was born 1992. He acquired Tiffany & Co. in 2021. In October 2021, he married D’Estrëe creator Geralde Guyot in Venice, Italy.
On November 10, 1995, Frédéric was born. He became CEO of TAG Heuer in 2020 and LVMH watches in January 2024.
Jean (26 years old) earned a master’s in financial mathematics from MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His title is LVMH Watch Development and Marketing Director.
Bernard Arnault nominated Alexandre and Frédéric to the LVMH Group board in January 2024.
Promise to reconstruct Notre Dame Cathedral for $226 million
After the April 15, 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire, Arnault and Mercier contributed about 226 million USD for repairs.
“The Arnault family and the LVMH group stand in solidarity with everyone in this national tragedy, pledging to finance the reconstruction of the cathedral – a unique monument, a symbol of France,” the group said, adding that the donation will go to “a fund dedicated to the reconstruction of this architectural work that is integral to French history”.
Hélène Mercier and Bernard Arnault dined with King Charles and Queen Camilla on September 20, 2023, during their first state visit to France as UK monarchs. The Chateau of Versailles west of Paris hosted the gathering.