Bernard Arnault’s global real estate portfolio includes the $200 million USD Château Cheval Blanc and a private island.
The LVMH chairman also owns homes in Saint-Tropez, the Alps, Beverly Hills, and Geneva.
Arnault’s empire even includes 25 wineries and over 30 prestigious hotels.
In the rarefied atmosphere of ultra-luxury real estate, where estates are traded like masterpiece artworks and privacy comes at a premium few can afford, Bernard Arnault’s property portfolio reads like a carefully curated museum of architectural excellence. The Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) chairman, often labelled as the ‘wolf in the cashmere coat’ for his shrewd business acumen, has assembled a collection of homes that mirrors his $166 billion USD empire—each property carefully selected for its discretion, sophistication, and strategic positioning.
Unlike his Silicon Valley peers, who favour headline-grabbing mansions in places like Creek Island —dubbed ‘billionaire bunkers‘ — Arnault, the only top-ten billionaire residing outside the United States, has quietly curated a global real estate portfolio that whispers sophistication rather than shouting opulence. His residences, spread across continents like so many rare gems in a crown, tell the story of a refined taste that goes well beyond raw wealth, reflective of the same attention to detail that transformed a provincial French businessman into luxury’s most powerful figure.
In This Bernard Arnault Real Estate Story
The LVMH Boss’s Primary Residence
French Alps Residence
Saint-Tropez Villa
California Mansion
Indigo Island, Bahamas
What other major properties does Arnault own besides homes?
A Legacy of Prestige and Passion
The LVMH Boss’s Primary Residence
Price: $200 million USD
Size: 7,000 sp. ft. interior, 12 acres
Date of Purchase: 1998
At the heart of this impressive collection is Arnault’s most iconic residence: Château Cheval Blanc home, valued at over $200 million USD. Nestled in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, this 150-year-old architectural masterpiece took over a decade to perfect — a timeline that speaks volumes about its owner’s notorious perfectionism. Acquired in 1998, the privately held château extends on 12 acres of vineyard territory, wherein history and modernity dance in perfection.
Image: Benjamin Zingg
The château, made from limestone, with a façade guarded by imposing lion sculptures flanked at the entrance by a bronze door, provides little evidence of what treasures lie within. Inside, the 7,000-square-foot interior reads like a who’s-who of contemporary art, with works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Maurizio Cattelan, and Andy Warhol adorning its walls.
A grand piano and marble fireplace anchor the living room, while a 24-seat dining table presides over gatherings that might easily shape the future of global luxury. Its facilities are equally impressive: an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a submarine at one end, a private lake, a tennis court, and spacious gardens that seem to go towards the horizon. The library is full of volumes on every aspect of art, history, and literature, while the ballroom merely waits for its chance to host stylish parties and soirees.
Though few images of the house’s interior are publicly available, the winery is open to guests and is also a thing of beauty. Image: Cécile Burban
Completed in 2011, the property comfortably balances the château’s historic heritage with the most modern winemaking facilities while being a very good representative of the LVMH spirit.
French Alps Residence
Price: Unknown
Size: 34 suites
Date of Purchase: 2006
Image: LVMH/Cheval Blanc
Arnault’s taste for luxury extends to the breathtaking French Alps, where he has a house in the famous ski resort of Courchevel. This plush retreat comprises 34 richly adorned rooms, which include a private chalet and a penthouse with panoramic mountain views. Equipped with a heated pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi, this estate progresses in comfort combined with exclusivity.
Saint-Tropez Villa
Price: c. $13 million USD
Size: Seven bedrooms, five bathrooms
Date of Purchase: Unknown
The French Riviera calls Arnault through his villa in Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez, a 270-acre gated community with the average prices of homes hovering at $13 million USD. This enclave has a private outdoor tennis court, a separate guesthouse for those arriving friends, and staff quarters for convenience.
Image: Getty
Inside the villa unfolds a state-of-the-art movie theatre, seven opulent bedrooms, and five elegant bathrooms. The outdoor pool is just the right place to relax under the bright Mediterranean sun, amidst gardens that offer serenity and sophistication.
California Mansion
Price: $125 million USD
Size: 10,000 square feet
Date of Purchase: 2022
Beyond the French borders, Arnault’s California holdings reveal his eye for strategic positioning. Residing in the exclusive Trousdale Estates neighbourhood of Beverly Hills, his $121.5 million USD mansion is a perfect testimony to modern luxuries.
The single-story structure is over 10,000 square feet and views everything from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Tall walls with a private driveway make this home extremely private, a perfect fit for Arnault’s liking for discretion. This property is one of five California homes he owns, valued at several hundred million dollars in total, scattered over premium neighbourhoods like Bird Streets.
Indigo Island, Bahamas
Price: $137 million USD
Size: 135 acres
Date of Purchase: Unknown
For complete secrecy, Arnault goes to Indigo Island in the Bahamas. This 135-acre private haven, bought for about $137 million USD, boasts pristine beaches and exclusivity. Indigo Island offers a retreat for the world’s mighty and shows Arnault’s penchant for privacy and leisure.
The area is also a favoured retreat for other high-profile celebrities, including Hollywood icons Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who own homes on the island.
Image: Sea GlassAnother part of Arnault’s international real estate portfolio is situated in the United Kingdom, where in 2000, he bought a 318-acre plot known as Lyn Park, lying 30 kilometres north of London. He built a 4,300-square-meter villa at this site to add another swell address to his portfolio.
Recent purchases show that Arnault has not lost his taste for top-end real estate. In April 2023, he was reported buying for $22 million USD in the Hamptons, setting a record at $4,400 per square foot- the highest price per square foot in the history of commercial real estate in the Hamptons. His 2018 purchase of an $80 million USD mansion in Geneva, featuring a private lake and helipad, further underlines his commitment to only buying the best.
What other major properties does Arnault own besides homes?
The reality of Arnault being a wine lover comes into play with the fact that he owns 25 wineries all over the world, among them a 25-acre estate in Burgundy for which he paid over $10 million USD. His real estate clout stretches far beyond the personal, though, via LVMH’s hospitality brands-especially Belmond and Cheval Blanc.
In 2006, Arnault started construction on the Louis Vuitton Foundation, the stunning art museum in Paris designed by the late iconic architect Frank Gehry, dedicated to showcasing contemporary art. It was quite the flex; sure, many billionaires collect some of the best art in the world, but few of them can say they also possess a gallery of their very own.
Image: Romulo Fialdini
The LVMH chairman’s real estate vision extends far beyond personal residences. His 2019 acquisition of Belmond Ltd. added more than 30 prestigious hotels to his empire, including the iconic Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the historic Copacabana Palace in Rio, and the majestic Reid’s Palace in Madeira. Each of these properties is handpicked to represent the pinnacle of luxury hospitality and meet LVMH’s uncompromising standards.
A Legacy of Prestige and Passion
Looking to the future, the LVMH chairman has continued to follow ventures that are most in tune with his passions and vision. Among his recent pursuits is the acquisition of Riva Yachts, known as the ‘Rolls Royce of the Sea,’ signalling his intention to merge speed and luxury on the water and showing that the luxury titan’s appetite for exceptional assets remains undiminished.
From historic châteaux to modern mansions, private islands to hotels de charme, Bernard Arnault’s real estate portfolio is more than a mere collection—it speaks volumes about vision and excellence. To the man behind the $500 billion LVMH empire, every house is not just a house; it is one chapter in a story where privacy meets prestige, and the art of living right is taken to a masterpiece of its own.
