French billionaire Bernard Arnault has taken majority ownership of LVMH with a stake valued at more than $160 billion, tightening his family's control of the sprawling luxury-goods company that he founded.
A spokesperson for the company said Tuesday that Arnault now owns 50.01% of LVMH's share capital, up from 49.77% at the end of last year.
The move comes weeks after Arnault unveiled plans to acquire more shares in LVMH, the conglomerate that owns fashion houses Louis Vuitton and Dior, jewelers Tiffany and Bulgari, champagne-and-cognac group Moet Hennessy and a host of other brands across luxury and other areas.
The family group has about 50% of LVMH's capital, Arnault said in an earnings call last month. "We are entitled to acquire a bit more," he said, adding that this year the family intended to cross the 50% threshold.
"We believe in what we do and we are showing it in that way," Arnault said.
LVMH has a market valuation of approximately 280 billion euros ($330 billion) according to Refinitiv LSEG data and based on Tuesday's closing price. That makes the Arnault family stake worth around $165 billion.
Arnault has long worked to secure control of the company, which is among Europe's largest. All of his children hold positions within the group, though ultimate succession plans remain uncertain.
Like most of its rivals, LVMH--considered a sector bellwether by most investors given the size, geographic diversity and category range of its operations--has been facing tough market conditions in the past years. That is especially true in China, due to limp demand and weak sales amid a frosty economic landscape.
After a lengthy downturn, the sector was relying on a rebound in China as well as creative shifts to reinvigorate demand for high-end goods. However, the company posted in January sluggish sales growth for the key holiday quarter, leading to caution among investors.
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Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com
Bernard Arnault is a French businessperson who has been at the helm of 10 different companies and presently holds the position of Chairman of Christian Dior SE, Chairman for Château Cheval Blanc SC, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Co-Chairman of Groupe Arnault SE and President for Groupe Arnault SE. He is also Chairman for Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création and on the board of 5 other companies.
He previously held the position of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Ferret Savinel Co., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for Nexity SA, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for Société Financière Agache SA and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Financière Agache SA.
Mr. Arnault received an undergraduate degree from Ecole Polytechnique.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE is the world leader in luxury products. Net sales break down by family of products as follows:
- fashion and leather items (46.7%): brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Celine, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Marc Jacobs, Berluti, Loro Piana, etc.;
- watches and jewels (13%): Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Hublot, Chaumet, Fred brands, Tiffany, etc.;
- perfumes and cosmetics products (10.1%): perfumes (Christian Dior, Guerlain, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy brands, etc.), makeup products (Make Up For Ever, Guerlain, Acqua di Parma, etc.), etc.;
- wines and spirits (6.6%): champagnes (Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Ruinart, Mercier, Château d'Yquem, Domaine du Clos des Lambrays, Château Cheval Blanc, Colgin Cellars, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Belvedere, Woodinville, Volcán de mi Tierra, Chandon, Cloudy Bay, Terrazas de los Andes brands, etc.; No. 1 worldwide), wines (Cape Mentelle, Château D'Yquem, etc.), cognacs (mainly Hennessy; No. 1 worldwide), whisky (mainly Glenmorangie), etc.;
The remaining net sales (23.6%) are from selective distribution through the Sephora, DFS, Miami Cruiseline chains and Le Bon Marché and La Samaritaine department stores.
At the end of 2025, products are marketed via a network of 6,283 outlets located throughout the world.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (8.3%), Europe (18%), Japan (7.9%), Asia (26.5%), the United States (25.6%) and other (13.7%).
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