LVMH founder Bernard Arnault lost more wealth than any billionaire in 2024

Paris – French tycoon Bernard Arnault’s net worth has plunged in 2024 by more than anyone else’s on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as demand for luxury goods continues to fall.

The founder of fashion-to-champagne conglomerate LVMH has seen his fortune drop by US$20 billion (S$26.8 billion) during the period to US$187 billion, according to the ranking of the world’s 500 wealthiest people. After the company’s shares took a beating on disappointing results this week, Mr Arnault’s losses surpassed the US$18 billion racked up by

China’s richest man Zhong Shanshan

.

Meanwhile, Mr Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, suffered a bigger single-day drop, though he is still up 5 per cent for 2024. On July 24, the Tesla co-founder’s wealth plummeted US$21.7 billion after the electric-car maker

reported disappointing quarterly results

, prompting several analysts to cut their price targets and sending its shares down 12 per cent, the most in almost four years.

Mr Musk’s one-day slump was the fifth-largest market-driven drop in the 12-year history of Bloomberg’s wealth index, trimming his fortune to US$240.5 billion. Even with the decline, he remains about US$37 billion ahead of Amazon’s Mr Jeff Bezos in second place.

The 75-year-old Mr Arnault has tumbled to No. 3 from being the world’s richest individual as recently as June, a position he attained after the Covid-19 pandemic when global demand for luxury goods soared.

Mr Zhong, meanwhile, is at risk of losing the top position in his home country – which he has held for almost three years – amid intensifying competition and public relations challenges at his bottled water giant, Nongfu Spring.

The decline in Mr Arnault’s fortune is rooted in the economic malaise in China, a market the luxury industry has long relied upon.

LVMH’s sales in the region that includes China tumbled 14 per cent in the latest quarter, a disappointment for a group that has been among the most resilient so far. Signs that the luxury bubble is quickly deflating have also come from Burberry Group and Cartier jewellery brand owner Richemont, controlled by South African billionaire Johann Rupert.

French rival Kering, founded by Mr Francois Pinault, 87, on July 24 warned its profits could fall by about 30 per cent in the second half of 2024. The luxury firm, which is run by the billionaire’s son, has been struggling to turn around its biggest brand, Gucci, as his fortune has halved over the last three years.

For Mr Arnault, the downturn coincides with the placing of his five children in key positions at LVMH and a series of deals through the private equity firm, L Catterton, that is backed by the group.
BLOOMBERG