Meet the 5 heirs speculated to rule LVMH, Bernard Arnault’s $287 billion empire

LVMH is the world’s largest luxury group, with a portfolio that cuts across fashion, jewellery, wines, and cosmetics. At its centre is Bernard Arnault, who has led the company for nearly four decades and remains closely involved in its day-to-day operations. Now 76, he recently secured approval to extend the CEO age limit, delaying the question of succession, but not putting it to rest.

Although Arnault has not publicly named a successor, nor confirmed whether one of his five children will eventually lead the group, all currently hold senior roles within the organisation. In an interview with The New York Times, he remarked that “it’s not an obligation, nor inevitable, that a kid is my successor,” adding that the best person, inside or outside the family, should eventually take over.

To prevent division among his children, he reportedly established a new holding company in which control is shared equally between them, giving the next generation influence over key decisions. While Arnault has dismissed comparisons to the HBO series Succession, speculation about the future of LVMH remains active.

With no public plan in place, focus has shifted to Arnault’s five children. All hold senior roles within the group and are widely seen as potential successors. As speculation continues, their growing presence at LVMH offers a glimpse into how the next chapter of the company may unfold.

Delphine Arnault

Delphine Arnault, born on 4 April 1975, is the eldest child of Bernard Arnault and his first wife, Anne Dewavrin. She holds degrees from EDHEC Business School and the London School of Economics. She began her career at McKinsey & Company in Paris, where she worked as a consultant for two years. In 2000, she joined designer John Galliano’s company. The following year, she moved to Christian Dior Couture as Commercial Director and was later promoted to Deputy Managing Director, a role she held from 2008 to 2013. In 2003, Delphine became the first woman and the youngest person to join the management board of LVMH.

In 2013, she was appointed Executive Vice President of Louis Vuitton, where she oversaw product-related functions and contributed to the brand’s strategic repositioning. She has played a key role in identifying and supporting emerging talent, including launching the LVMH Prize for Young Designers in 2014. In addition to her executive responsibilities, she serves on the boards of several LVMH houses and external companies, including Dior, Loewe, Pucci, Céline, Ferrari, and the Gagosian Gallery.

On 1 February 2023, she was appointed Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Christian Dior Couture, becoming the first of Bernard Arnault’s children to lead one of the group’s flagship brands. Her appointment is viewed as a significant step in LVMH’s generational transition, although the group has not announced a formal succession plan.

Antoine Arnault

Antoine Arnault, born on 4 June 1977, is the second child and eldest son of Bernard Arnault from his first marriage to Anne Dewavrin. He studied at HEC Montréal and later completed a postgraduate degree at INSEAD. He began his career at LVMH in the advertising department of Louis Vuitton and became its Director of Communications in 2007. During this time, he oversaw the launch of the “Core Values” campaign and initiated “Les Journées Particulières,” an event series that opened the group’s workshops to the public and highlighted its commitment to craftsmanship.

In 2011, he was appointed CEO of Berluti, LVMH’s menswear brand. Over his 12-year tenure, he led the company’s global expansion and broadened its scope beyond footwear. He also chairs Loro Piana, the Italian luxury textile brand acquired by LVMH in 2013. Since December 2022, Antoine has served as CEO of Christian Dior SE, the Arnault family’s holding company. He is also LVMH’s Head of Communication and Image, a role he has held since 2018, and sits on the group’s board of directors.

Alongside his operational responsibilities, Antoine has been involved in industry organisations such as the Comité Colbert and serves on the board of Madrigall, the parent company of French publisher Gallimard.

Alexandre Arnault

Alexandre Arnault, born in 1992, is the eldest son of Bernard Arnault from his second marriage to Hélène Mercier-Arnault. He studied at Télécom ParisTech and earned a master’s degree in innovation from École Polytechnique. He began his career at LVMH by contributing to the launch of its e-commerce platform, 24 Sèvres. At the age of 25, he was appointed co-CEO of Rimowa, the German luggage brand later acquired by LVMH. Alexandre is widely credited with identifying Rimowa as a strategic acquisition target and played a key role in convincing both the brand’s former owner and his father to proceed with the deal. During his leadership, he repositioned the company through collaborations with brands like Supreme and Off-White, helping to shift its identity toward the luxury market.

In 2021, following LVMH’s acquisition of Tiffany & Co., Alexandre moved to New York to become the jewellery house’s Executive Vice President of Product and Communications. Under his leadership, the brand underwent a strategic rebrand, with high-profile campaigns featuring figures such as Beyoncé and Hailey Bieber. The revamp reportedly contributed significantly to LVMH’s overall growth during that period. In 2024, he was appointed to lead Moët Hennessy, LVMH’s wine and spirits division—one of the company’s more complex business units. This move made him the first of Bernard Arnault’s children to take on a senior role in that sector. He is also a board member at Carrefour.

Alexandre’s close links to the technology and media industries, along with his digital approach to brand development, have made him a notable figure in discussions about LVMH’s future leadership. While Bernard Arnault has not publicly confirmed a succession plan, Alexandre remains one of the most visible contenders.

Frederic Arnault

Frédéric Arnault, born in 1995, is the fourth child of Bernard Arnault and the second from his marriage to Hélène Mercier-Arnault. He studied applied mathematics and computer science at École Polytechnique, one of France’s top engineering institutions. Before formally joining LVMH, Frédéric gained experience through internships at McKinsey & Company and Facebook’s artificial intelligence research division. He joined LVMH in 2017, starting in the connected technologies unit at TAG Heuer, where he later became Strategy and Digital Director. In 2020, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of TAG Heuer, becoming one of the youngest to lead a major LVMH brand.

In 2024, Frédéric was named CEO of LVMH Watches, overseeing the group’s key watch brands, including TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Hublot. He also joined the board of LVMH and was appointed Managing Director of the family holding company, Financière Agache. However, his role at the watch division concluded in early 2025, when Jean-Christophe Babin was announced as his successor. In March 2025, it was confirmed that Frédéric would become CEO of Loro Piana, effective June. The appointment places him within LVMH’s Fashion and Leather Goods division, its most profitable unit, making it a notable shift in his trajectory and seen by many as a significant step within the group’s internal leadership pipeline.

Jean Arnault

Jean Arnault, born in 1998, is the youngest of Bernard Arnault’s five children and the most recent to take on a leadership role within the LVMH group. He is the son of Bernard Arnault and his second wife, Hélène Mercier-Arnault. Jean earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College London and another in financial mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). During his studies, he interned at firms including Morgan Stanley and McLaren Racing, where he developed a strong interest in mechanics and design. He also worked briefly at a Louis Vuitton retail store, gaining firsthand experience in customer engagement.

In 2021, shortly after completing his education, Jean was appointed Director of Marketing and Product Development for Louis Vuitton’s watch division. By 2022, he had assumed full responsibility as Director of Watches for the brand. Under his leadership, Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking strategy underwent a major reset, including the discontinuation of a large portion of the existing product line and the repositioning of the Tambour watch as a high-end flagship model. His approach included championing artisanal practices such as single-watchmaker assembly, rare even in haute horlogerie. He also launched the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives, an initiative to support emerging talent in watchmaking, signalling his commitment to innovation and craftsmanship.

Jean has credited his older brother Frédéric, former CEO of TAG Heuer, for sparking his interest in horology. With his growing involvement in LVMH’s timepiece business and a focus on technical precision and brand elevation, Jean represents a new direction in the group’s efforts to build its reputation in the luxury watch space.