Europe’s richest man Bernard Arnault told to pay nearly ₹245 crore in taxes – How much is net worth of LVMH founder?
Approximately 22.5 million euros (approximately) to French billionaire Bernard Arnault and his wife ₹245 crore in additional taxes following the decision of the Paris Administrative Court of Appeal), according to a decision cited by AFP.
The court decided to punish Arnault, the chairman and CEO of the luxury holding company. LVMHand his wife owe an additional €12.96 million in debt to the French tax authorities for the 2010 tax year. This amount includes unpaid taxes, social contributions, penalties and late payment interest.
In addition, according to the decision published on the official website of the administrative court on July 2, the couple was ordered to pay 9.5 million Euros in relation to France’s wealth solidarity tax for the period between 2012 and 2015.
Arnault’s legal team stated that the decision would not be the final word on the matter. The decision will be appealed to the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, a spokesman for the billionaire told AFP on Saturday.
The tax dispute focuses on what is described as: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE’s “complex shareholding structure.” french news source InformHe said the case, which first reported the court’s decision, involved how certain ownership arrangements within the luxury group were treated by tax authorities.
Bernard Arnault’s Net Worth
Luxury goods giant LVMH generated revenue of 19.1 billion euros ($22.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, a 6% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite maintaining positive underlying growth, investor confidence remained weak. As of April 14, 2026, LVMH shares were down nearly 26% since the beginning of the year; This reflects concerns about the outlook for the luxury sector and broader market pressures.
The sharp decline in the company’s shares significantly damaged the fortune of founder and CEO Bernard Arnault. Arnault, who holds about half of LVMH shares along with minority investments in Hermes and Birkenstock, has seen his fortune fall by about $50 billion this year.
Bernard Arnault remains the richest person in Europe and held the title of richest person in the world on multiple occasions between 2019 and 2024, when his net worth reached an estimated $233 billion. Forbes.
The French billionaire, now 77, is estimated to be worth around $151 billion, placing him ninth on Forbes’ global rich list, behind Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
according to Bloomberg Billionaires IndexBernard Arnault is the richest person in France and Europe, and currently the eighth richest person in the world, with a net worth of approximately $165 billion.
bernard Arnault’s Career
Bernard Arnault began his professional career in the construction industry before switching to luxury goods in 1984. That year, he bought Christian Dior for $95 million after the company emerged from bankruptcy and gradually expanded its stake in LVMH while the group was in the midst of a management battle.
By 1989, Arnault took control of LVMH, integrated Dior into the business, and began building one of the world’s largest luxury conglomerates. Today the group has a portfolio of 75 prestigious brands covering fashion, jewellery, cosmetics, wine and spirits.
Bernard Arnault made the Forbes World’s Billionaires list in 1997, with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion. Nearly three decades later, despite a sharp decline in his fortune this year, he remains among the richest people in the world as his wealth is closely tied to the performance of LVMH’s global luxury empire.
