The LVMH billionaire rebutted Le Monde’s depiction of family infighting, saying his five children work together across the group’s brands as succession questions continue to draw scrutiny.
Bernard Arnault used social media for the first time to push back against Le Monde’s portrayal of rivalry within his family, publishing and amplifying a letter that dismissed suggestions of a "Succession-style" struggle over control of LVMH. Arnault, 77, whose net worth was cited at about $142 billion, said some people were "betting on the cracks in a family in order to sell newspapers" and rejected the idea that discussions among his five children amounted to plotting. The dispute centers on succession at LVMH, where all five of Arnault’s children hold senior roles across the group’s fashion, wine and spirits, and watch businesses. Le Monde reported jealousy and tensions among the siblings and described pressure to win their father’s approval, while Arnault countered that his children "run Maisons, build teams, make decisions" and simply "call each other on Sundays." Bill Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square, praised Arnault’s response on X and said the platform had shifted the balance of power away from the media and back to the people.