“What a waste of time!” », His loved ones sigh. Bernard Arnault, however, did not want to hear anything. The richest Frenchman in the world dreamed of this slightly old-fashioned black coat embroidered with green silk olive leaves and of this sword that marks the uniform of academics.
He approached this campaign to seduce the 46 members of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences whose votes he will request on Monday, December 2, to join his prestigious circle, with the discipline and method he uses in everything. Write for each person a handwritten letter with his classic, loose handwriting, a task he worked on since his childhood as the best in the class. Compelling himself to dozens of visits and even copious lunches – royal hare and great wines – in the company of the most influential academics, he himself usually imposes a low-calorie diet.
Curiously, the head of LVMH is not content with being received around the world with the rank and honors of a head of state. At 75 years old, he continues to seek distinctions and recognition. On November 20, he did not hesitate to make a round trip to Bangkok just for the pleasure of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief and son of the creator of the financial magazine. Forbeswhich, for more than a century, has been compiling the list of the great fortunes and the most successful.
Demonstration of power
A few months earlier, on March 13, Bernard Arnault received with great pomp, under the gold of the Elysée, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the highest distinction of the French Republic, from the head of state, Emmanuel Macron. A single glance at the assembly of guests, gathered in the banquet hall of the presidential palace, was enough to understand the exceptional power of the recipient.
We could meet American billionaire Elon Musk (Space the star couple of the music industry Beyoncé and Jay-Z, lifelong muses of the LVMH group brands, the artist Jeff Koons and Queen Rania of Jordan.
You have 78.53% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
