Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH and one of the world’s richest individuals with a net worth of $142 billion, publicly denied claims that his children are feuding over control of the luxury conglomerate. Arnault, 77, addressed the rumors in a letter posted on social media this week, refuting reports by French newspaper Le Monde that suggested internal family conflict over succession plans.
The letter, written in French and reposted by LVMH’s official X account under the title “Merci,” criticized those spreading the narrative of a family dispute as attempting to profit from false stories. Arnault dismissed the idea of his family as a “last royal family of France,” noting that his children, who all work within LVMH’s fashion houses, laughed at the suggestion they needed to bow. He accused some parties of betting on family cracks to sell newspapers.
Succession at LVMH has long been a subject of public interest given the company’s stature in the luxury sector and Arnault’s five children’s involvement in various parts of the business. The denial comes amid ongoing speculation about who will succeed Arnault as head of the conglomerate. Le Monde is France’s largest newspaper by circulation, lending weight to the initial reports that Arnault now firmly rejects.
Arnault’s letter serves as a direct rebuttal to the Le Monde story, emphasizing family unity and dismissing insinuations of political favoritism or internal strife. The letter was posted on July 28, 2026, marking a rare public statement from Arnault on the topic of succession and family dynamics.