#52 Bernard Arnault
Chairman
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy
France
Age: 60
France's richest man is also world's most powerful tastemaker. Heads LVMH, world's largest luxury empire; brand guardian for De Beers, Dom Pérignon, Fendi, Tag Heuer. Expanding into China, Russia, India. Unofficial ambassador for France, Inc.: Dispatched to China to stymie Chinese campaign to boycott French goods in wake of Paris Olympic protests.
