Louis Vuitton is one of the most iconic luxury fashion brands in the world. Known for its signature LV monogram, the brand has become synonymous with high-end fashion and luxury goods.
But who is the real owner of Louis Vuitton? Let’s take a closer look.
History of Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton was founded in 1854 by a man named Louis Vuitton. He opened his first store in Paris, France, where he sold trunks and luggage. The brand quickly became popular due to its high quality and innovative designs.
In 1892, Louis Vuitton passed away, and ownership of the company was passed on to his son Georges Vuitton. Under Georges’ leadership, Louis Vuitton continued to grow and expand its product line.
The LVMH Group
In 1987, Louis Vuitton merged with Moet Hennessy to form the LVMH Group. LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate that owns over 60 brands including Dior, Givenchy, Fendi, and Bulgari.
Bernard Arnault is the Chairman and CEO of LVMH Group. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world with an estimated net worth of $150 billion as of 2021.
Bernard Arnault’s Ownership
As the Chairman and CEO of LVMH Group, Bernard Arnault is technically the owner of Louis Vuitton. However, it’s important to note that ownership in a publicly traded company like LVMH is a bit more complicated than that.
LVMH has thousands of shareholders who own small pieces of the company through stocks or other investments. While Bernard Arnault holds majority control over LVMH through his personal investments and his family holding company Groupe Arnault, he does not own the company outright.
Conclusion
So, who is the real owner of Louis Vuitton? The answer is Bernard Arnault, the Chairman and CEO of LVMH Group.
However, ownership in a publicly traded company like LVMH is more complicated than just one person owning it outright. Nevertheless, Louis Vuitton continues to be one of the most iconic luxury fashion brands in the world, with its signature LV monogram representing high-end fashion and luxury goods for over a century.