Several of the world’s wealthiest individuals in the fashion industry faced significant setbacks, collectively losing a staggering $8.2 billion in just 24 hours. Leading this financial decline was Bernard Arnault, the billionaire mastermind behind luxury conglomerate LVMH, who saw his wealth plummet by a substantial $3.3 billion. Similarly, Francois Pinault, the esteemed honorary chairman of luxury powerhouse Kering, experienced a notable downturn, with his fortune diminishing by $3.2 billion. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the L’Oreal heiress and beauty industry icon, also found herself among the top losers, facing a significant loss of $1.8 billion.
The drop in their net worth can be attributed to the performance of their shares in various corporations. Despite the luxury market’s growth over the past decade, recent years have seen less impressive sales. This trend was exacerbated on Wednesday, as luxury goods stocks came under pressure, particularly due to ongoing concerns surrounding the Chinese market. The turmoil intensified when Kering reported disappointing financial results, causing its share price to plummet by more than 10%.
This sudden decline had a ripple effect across the industry, with other major luxury groups experiencing substantial sell-offs. LVMH, Hermes, and Richemont all saw their stock prices drop by over 2%. Even brands like Dior and Prada were not spared, as their stocks similarly retreated.
The downturn in luxury stocks was primarily attributed to Kering’s lackluster performance in Asia, its key growth market, where sales plummeted by over 20%. This event underscores the volatility of the luxury market and the impact of global economic factors on the fortunes of the industry’s top players.