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Inside Bernard Arnault’s Slow-Burn Succession Plan for LVMH

With all five heirs holding senior roles across LVMH, Bernard Arnault is preparing the next generation without revealing who will ultimately take control.

While the conglomerate behind Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and Hennessy appears to be emerging from the broader luxury-sector slump, uncertainty still surrounds its future leadership. At 77, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault has yet to indicate which of his five children will eventually lead the 75-brand empire. Despite Arnault insisting there is no discord within his family, questions persist over the future of the industry’s second richest family (behind Hermès), with a net worth of $147 billion.

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LVMH’s 12th-largest shareholder, asset manager DWS Group, said the succession plan remains “uncertain and opaque,” according to a translated report from French publication Le Monde published in July. The conglomerate, which generated €80.8 billion ($96.5 billion) in revenue in 2025, has publicly pushed back on claims of family strife. In a letter posted on X and signed by Arnault, the company said anyone waiting for the family to fracture would be “waiting a long time.”

LVMH’s latest earnings may give Arnault more reason to delay a transition. Revenue rose 3 percent to €19.3 billion ($22.2 billion) in the latest quarter, marking the company’s strongest performance since early 2024. Dior’s........

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