Family Secures Majority Stake in Leading Luxury Goods Company
The Arnault family has increased its stake in LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton to just over 50 percent, consolidating its control of the world’s largest luxury group.
According to sources, the family now holds 50.01 percent of the capital and 65.94 percent of voting rights, up from 49.77 percent and 65.89 percent respectively at the end of last year. The increase follows a period of market softness, during which the family group moved to acquire additional shares.
The move reinforces the Arnault family’s long-standing strategy of maintaining a stable controlling interest in LVMH, which owns more than 75 brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Sephora, and Moët & Chandon.
Bernard Arnault had previously indicated that crossing the 50 percent threshold would reflect confidence in the group’s long-term outlook, even as LVMH reported a 5 percent decline in revenues last year.
“[The family group] thinks and invests for the medium term, builds products for the long run, and isn’t obsessed with what might happen next quarter,” Arnault said, emphasizing a long-term approach to both investment and brand development.
He added that demand for luxury goods remains structurally supported by rising global living standards. “I often say that in our business, I’m optimistic over the medium term. The appetite for high-quality products grows in tandem with rising living standards around the world, and I believe that trend will continue.”
The consolidation of ownership follows structural changes announced in 2022, when Arnault reorganized his holding company, Financière Agache, into a limited joint-stock partnership controlled by his five children—Delphine, Antoine, Alexandre, Frédéric, and Jean Arnault—all of whom hold roles within LVMH.
While succession planning remains a long-term consideration, the group last year extended the age limit for its chief executive to 85, allowing the 76-year-old Arnault to remain at the helm for the foreseeable future.
The increase in the family’s stake underscores its continued commitment to LVMH at a time when the luxury sector is navigating a more complex economic environment, while reinforcing its position as the group’s controlling shareholder.