LVMH

Though LVMH was founded in 1987 by the merger of Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennessy, Bernard Arnault is the undeniable mastermind behind this luxury juggernaut. Arnault is credited with turning LVMH from a chic boutique into a global empire, assembling a dazzling array of brands from Christian Dior to Dom Pérignon, and even the crumbling architectural marvel that is the “Louis Vuitton Foundation.” Defining moments include snagging the most exclusive runway shows and the occasional PR nightmare, such as the kerfuffle over high-profile legal battles with counterfeiters and the company's sometimes extravagant tax schemes. Valued at over $400 billion, LVMH is practically the financial equivalent of a private island, although not without its share of scandals. The company’s penchant for snapping up heritage brands is matched only by its ability to provoke eye-rolls among critics who see luxury as a vanity parade rather than a business model. Under the reign of Arnault, who’s as synonymous with luxury as his brands, LVMH continues to sit atop the haute couture throne—an empire where the only thing more inflated than the prices is the prestige.