Hermès Family Displaces Bernard Arnault in France's Top 500 Wealthy Individuals List
In a significant shift in the French business landscape, the Hermès heirs have taken the top spot in Challenges magazine's 2025 ranking of France's 500 wealthiest individuals. This marks the first time in years that Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH, has been surpassed.
The combined wealth of the 500 largest French fortunes reached 1,128 billion euros in 2025, according to Challenges. In recent years, Bernard Arnault and the Bettencourt Meyers family (L'Oréal heiress) have typically held the top spots.
The Hermès family, including 100 descendants, now holds the top spot in France's wealthiest individuals ranking. The family owns 66.7% of the shares in the luxury group, currently valued at €163.4 billion. In comparison, Bernard Arnault and his family controlled 48% of the capital of LVMH, but their fortune is now valued at €116.7 billion.
The world's leading luxury player, LVMH, lost 25% of its value in one year, while the Hermès luxury group generated €15.2 billion in revenue in 2024, with a net result increase of 6.8%. In contrast, LVMH's net result fell by 17% in 2024, and the luxury industry has seen a growth slowdown since mid-2024.
Despite the industry-wide slowdown, the Hermès family's fortune has continued to grow. The family's fortune has increased by 5% since the 2024 ranking, while that of Bernard Arnault and his family has decreased by 38.6%. This growth is particularly noteworthy as it occurred during a challenging period for the luxury industry.
The magazine Challenges has published a new ranking of France's 500 wealthiest individuals, which is available on newsstands on July 10. The ranking reflects the changes in the luxury industry and the fortunes of its key players.
Thierry Hermès, the founder of the luxury group that the Hermès family now owns a majority stake in, was born in 1801 and passed away in 1878. The group has since grown to become one of the most iconic names in luxury fashion, with a reputation for quality and craftsmanship.
In conclusion, the Hermès heirs have taken the top spot in Challenges magazine's 2025 ranking of France's wealthiest individuals, surpassing Bernard Arnault for the first time in years. This shift reflects the changes in the luxury industry and the fortunes of its key players. The Hermès family's continued growth during a challenging period for the industry is particularly noteworthy.
- The Hermès family, with a fortune of €163.4 billion, currently leads in the luxury sector as their wealth grew by 5% since 2024, despite the slowdown in the industry.
- In stark contrast to the Hermès family, Bernard Arnault's fortune has decreased by 38.6% over the same period, demonstrating a shift in the French business landscape, with the Hermès heirs now leading in wealth and lifestyle.
