United States: Mr. Elon Musk has regained his position as the world’s wealthiest individual, surpassing Mr. Bernard Arnault, the head of luxury goods company LVMH.
Mr. Arnault briefly surpassed Musk on the rich list in December 2022 when LMVH shares soared amid a rebound in luxury goods demand. However, Tesla’s shares experienced a sharp decline as concerns arose about Mr. Musk’s leadership due to his involvement with Twitter. Nonetheless, Tesla shares have since rebounded by nearly 92 percent as investor confidence has been restored and Mr. Musk announced his successor as Twitter CEO. Additionally, Mr. Musk’s recent visit to China to discuss Tesla and the company’s involvement in artificial intelligence has generated excitement.
Conversely, LMVH, the owner of renowned brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, has experienced a reversal of fortune. After reaching a record high in April 2023, its shares have plummeted, with a 16 percent decline since the beginning of the year. Mr. Arnault, who co-founded the luxury goods conglomerate in 1987, holds a majority stake in the company, making it Europe’s most valuable firm.
In January 2023, Mr. Arnault implemented a restructuring at LMVH, appointing his daughter Delphine Arnault as the head of the fashion house Dior. The Arnault family is heavily involved in the management of various brands within the group, with all five of Mr. Arnault’s children holding positions.