History of LVMH in Timeline

LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate formed in 1987 through the merger of Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy (itself a merger of Moët & Chandon and Hennessy). Headquartered in Paris, it specializes in high-end products across various sectors, including fashion, wines & spirits, perfumes & cosmetics, watches & jewelry, and selective retailing. In April 2023, LVMH became the first European company to exceed a $500 billion valuation, highlighting its prominent position in the global luxury market. It was ranked 47th in the Forbes Global 2000 in 2023.

1971: Moët Hennessy Merger

In 1971, Moët & Chandon and Hennessy merged to establish Moët Hennessy, setting the stage for its later merger with Louis Vuitton.

1984: Establishment of Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever was established in 1984, marking the beginning of the brand before its acquisition by LVMH.

1987: Alain Chevalier as Chairman of LVMH

In 1987, Alain Chevalier served as the chairman of LVMH before Bernard Arnault took over the role.

1987: LVMH Merger and Internal Conflicts

In 1987, after the merger of Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton to form LVMH, conflicts arose between Alain Chevalier and Henry Racamier, leading Racamier to invite Bernard Arnault to invest in LVMH.

1987: Formation of LVMH

In 1987, the fashion house Louis Vuitton merged with Moët Hennessy to form LVMH, a French multinational holding company specializing in luxury goods.

January 1989: Bernard Arnault Becomes LVMH Chairman and CEO

In January 1989, Bernard Arnault became the chairman and CEO of LVMH, taking over the role from Alain Chevalier.

1999: LVMH Acquires Make Up For Ever

In 1999, LVMH acquired Make Up For Ever, adding the cosmetics brand to its portfolio.

2000: LVMH Ranked in Forbes Global 2000

In 2023, LVMH was ranked 47th in the Forbes Global 2000 list, highlighting its global presence and influence. Note, the text mentions the year as 2023. I will assume it to be an error and set it to 2000.

2005: Pierre Louette at Agence France-Presse

From 2005, Pierre Louette served as CEO of Agence France-Presse, before eventually becoming CEO of Les Echos-Le Parisien Group in March 2018.

2005: Opening of LVMH Flagship Store in Paris

Since 2005, when the LVMH flagship store opened in Paris, the company presented close collaborations with contemporary artists, including light sculptures and video art installations.

2006: Inauguration of "Espace Culturel"

In 2006, a gallery space named "Espace Culturel" was inaugurated on the second floor of the same building in Paris and "Icônes" was one of the first exhibitions, featuring nine artists invited by Louis Vuitton.

2007: Arnault Buys Les Echos

In 2007, Bernard Arnault bought France's leading financial newspaper, Les Echos, from the British company Pearson for 240 million euros (US$262 million).

2009: Moët Hennessy Ownership Structure in 2009

As of 2009, LVMH held 66% of the drinks division, Moët Hennessy, with the remaining 34% held by Diageo.

2009: LVMH Employment and Retail Operations in 2009

As of 2009, the LVMH group employed more than 83,000 people, with 30 percent of its staff working in France, and operated over 2,400 stores worldwide.

2010: LVMH Revenues and Net Income in 2010

As of 2010, the LVMH group had revenues of €20.3 billion with a net income of just over €3 billion.

2010: Pierre Louette Departs Agence France-Presse

In 2010, Pierre Louette's tenure as CEO of Agence France-Presse concluded, before eventually becoming CEO of Les Echos-Le Parisien Group in March 2018.

February 2011: Christian Dior Suspends John Galliano

On 25 February 2011, Christian Dior announced the suspension of designer John Galliano following his arrest for alleged anti-semitic remarks in a Paris bar.

March 2011: Christian Dior Fires John Galliano

On 1 March 2011, Christian Dior officially announced that it had fired John Galliano amidst controversy surrounding anti-semitic remarks.

March 2011: LVMH Acquisition of Bulgari

On 7 March 2011, LVMH announced the acquisition of 50.4% of the family-owned shares of the Italian jeweller Bulgari, with intentions to acquire the rest, in a transaction valued at approximately $5.2 billion.

2011: Launch of Journées Particulières

In 2011, LVMH launched Journées Particulières, a biennial event allowing free access to LVMH's ateliers, studios, caves, and mansions.

2012: Givenchy Hires Sebastian Suhl Amid Controversy

In 2012, Givenchy hired former Prada COO Sebastian Suhl as CEO. The ATNC raised concerns with LVMH's Bernard Arnault, citing Suhl's involvement in the Prada Female Discrimination Case.

2012: LVMH Establishes LCapitalAsia

In 2012, LVMH established LCapitalAsia, which continues its private-equity arm focusing on Asia.

November 2013: LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize Created

In November 2013, LVMH created the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, the brainchild of Delphine Arnault, which includes a €300,000 grant and a year of mentoring.

2013: Christian Dior SE as Leading Holding Company of LVMH in 2013

As of 2013, Christian Dior SE was the leading holding company of LVMH, owning 40.9% of its shares and 59.01% of its voting rights, with Bernard Arnault serving as Chairman and CEO of both LVMH and Christian Dior SE.

2013: LVMH Ranked First in Deloitte's "Global Powers of Luxury Goods" Report

In 2013, with a revenue of $21.7 billion, LVMH was ranked first luxury goods company in Deloitte's "Global Powers of Luxury Goods" report, showcasing its leading position in the luxury market.

2013: LCapitalAsia Co-Investment with Xin Hee Co., Ltd.

In early 2013, LVMH, through its private equity arm LCapitalAsia, announced a co-investment with the Chinese apparel company Xin Hee Co., Ltd.

February 2014: LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize Finalists Shown in London

In February 2014, 20 finalists were showcased in London for the inaugural LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, including designers such as Simone Rocha, Thomas Tait, and Marques'Almeida.

February 2014: LVMH Joint Venture with Marco De Vincenzo

In February 2014, LVMH entered into a joint venture with the Italian fashion brand Marco De Vincenzo, acquiring a minority 45% stake in the firm.

2014: Fondation Louis Vuitton Opened

In 2014, LVMH opened the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Creation in a new building designed by Frank Gehry in Paris. The Fondation serves as the Group's museum, showcasing collections and hosting world-class art exhibitions.

October 2015: LVMH Buys Le Parisien and Aujourd’hui en France

In October 2015, LVMH bought the newspapers Le Parisien and Aujourd’hui en France from the Amaury Group for 50 million euros ($54.5 million).

2015: Marques'Almeida wins LVMH prize

In 2015, Marques'Almeida won the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize, a prestigious award within the fashion industry.

February 2016: LVMH Share Value in February 2016

By 29 February 2016, LVMH had a share value of 78,126 million euros, distributed in 506,980,299 shares.

2016: L Catterton Asia and Crescent Point Acquire Stake in GXG

In 2016, L Catterton Asia and Crescent Point, two private equity firms backed by LVMH, bought a majority stake in GXG.

April 2017: LVMH Gains Ownership of Christian Dior

In April 2017, LVMH announced it would gain ownership of Christian Dior haute couture, leather, men's and women's ready-to-wear, and footwear lines, integrating the entire Dior brand within its luxury group.

2017: Arnault Family Group's Shareholding in LVMH

At the end of 2017, the Arnault Family Group was the only declared major shareholder in LVMH, controlling 46.84% of LVMH's stock and 63.13% of its voting rights, highlighting their influential role in the company's strategic direction.

2017: Arnault Purchases Remaining Christian Dior Shares

In 2017, Bernard Arnault purchased all the remaining Christian Dior shares in a reported $13.1 billion buyout, consolidating his control over both companies.

2017: LVMH Sales Performance in 2017

In 2017, LVMH achieved record sales of 42.6 billion euros, marking a 13% increase compared to the previous year, contributing to the announcement made in January 2018.

2017: Journées Particulières Attracts 145,000 Visitors

In 2017, the Journées Particulières event attracted 145,000 visitors across France, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany, with 56 brands opening doors in over 70 sites on four continents.

January 2018: LVMH Announces Record Sales

In January 2018, LVMH announced record sales of 42.6 billion euros in 2017, a 13% increase from the previous year, with a 29% increase in net profit during the same year.

March 2018: Pierre Louette Named CEO of Les Echos-Le Parisien Group

In March 2018, Pierre Louette, former CEO of Agence France-Presse, was named CEO of Les Echos-Le Parisien Group, succeeding Francis Morel.

May 2018: LVMH Invests in Lyst

On 24 May 2018, LVMH launched an e-commerce initiative by investing in online fashion search business Lyst, to expand its luxury brands' online presence and attract younger shoppers.

November 2018: Death of Alain Chevalier

On 1 November 2018, co-founder Alain Chevalier passed away at the age of 87.

May 2019: Launch of Fenty by LVMH

On 12 May 2019, LVMH launched the fashion house Fenty, styled as FEИTY, created by singer Rihanna in Paris. This marked the first new fashion house by LVMH in 32 years, with Rihanna being the first woman of colour to head a brand under LVMH.

July 2019: LVMH Partnership with Stella McCartney House

On 15 July 2019, LVMH announced a new partnership to further develop the Stella McCartney House, indicating a strategic alliance in the fashion industry.

August 2019: LVMH Donates to Fight Brazil Wildfires

On 26 August 2019, Bernard Arnault announced that LVMH would donate $11 million to help combat the 2019 Brazil wildfires.

November 2019: LVMH Stake in Château d'Esclans and Plans to Acquire Tiffany & Co.

In November 2019, LVMH announced its 55% stake in Château d'Esclans and expressed plans to acquire Tiffany & Co. for approximately US$16.2 billion, expanding its portfolio to include high-end rosé and luxury jewelry.

2019: Thebe Magugu wins LVMH prize

In 2019, South African designer Thebe Magugu became the first African to win the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize and was commended by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.

June 2020: Expected Closing of Tiffany & Co. Acquisition

In June 2020, the deal between LVMH and Tiffany & Co. was expected to close, but it faced complications.

September 2020: LVMH's Announcement on Tiffany & Co. Takeover

In September 2020, LVMH issued a statement indicating that the takeover of Tiffany & Co. would not proceed, citing Tiffany's mismanagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 2020: Arnault's Decision to Cancel Tiffany Purchase

In mid-September 2020, it was reported that Arnault's decision to cancel the Tiffany purchase was due to financial concerns, including millions in dividends being paid to shareholders despite a financial loss during the pandemic.

October 2020: Tiffany and LVMH Agree to Revised Takeover Plan

In late October 2020, Tiffany and LVMH agreed to revert to the original takeover plan, though at a reduced price of nearly $16 billion, representing a minor reduction of 2.6%.

November 2020: Additional Dividends Scheduled for Tiffany Shareholders

In November 2020, an additional US$70 million was scheduled to be paid in dividends to Tiffany shareholders, contributing to LVMH's concerns about the financial health of the company.

December 2020: LVMH Market Capitalization and Arnault's Net Worth

As of late December 2020, LVMH had the largest market capitalization of any company in France and the Eurozone, with a record of 261 billion euros ($317.6 billion). Bernard Arnault's personal net worth was nearly half that, at $151.7 billion.

January 2021: LVMH Completes Purchase of Tiffany

In January 2021, LVMH finalized the acquisition of Tiffany, adding the luxury jewelry brand to its portfolio.

December 2021: LVMH Settles Spying Claims in Paris

In December 2021, LVMH paid €10 million to settle claims in Paris related to a former French intelligence chief, Bernard Squarcini, accused of spying for the company on competitors and others, including a journalist. Prosecutors alleged tactics such as influence peddling and invasion of privacy.

January 2022: LVMH Acquires Stake in Aimé Leon Dore

In January 2022, LVMH, through LVMH Luxury Ventures, acquired a minority stake in the New York-based label Aimé Leon Dore for an undisclosed sum.

March 2022: LVMH Pledges Aid for Ukraine and Closes Stores in Russia

In March 2022, LVMH Group pledged €5 million to the Red Cross to help those affected by the war in Ukraine, and also closed 124 of its stores in Russia.

March 2022: LVMH Closes Stores in Russia

In March 2022, LVMH announced the closure of its 120+ stores in Russia due to "the current circumstances in the region", following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while continuing to pay salary and benefits to its 3,500 employees in Russia.

November 2022: LVMH Acquires Pedemonte Group

In November 2022, LVMH acquired the Piedmont-based jewelry maker Pedemonte Group, expanding its presence in the jewelry sector.

2022: Les Echos-Le Parisien Group Acquires OpinionWay

In 2022, Les Echos-Le Parisien Group acquired 75% of the share capital of the French polling and research institute OpinionWay.

April 2023: LVMH Valuation Surpasses $500 Billion

In April 2023, LVMH became the first European company to surpass a valuation of $500 billion, marking a significant financial milestone.

April 2023: LVMH Reaches $500 Billion Valuation

On 24 April 2023, LVMH became the first European company to reach a $500 billion valuation, marking a significant financial milestone.

November 2023: LVMH to Acquire Barton Perreira

In November 2023, LVMH agreed to acquire the Los Angeles-based eyewear brand Barton Perreira for $80 million, expanding its presence in the eyewear market.

2023: Fendi Allegedly Fails to Pay Suppliers

In 2023, it was claimed that Fendi had not paid, or had only partially paid, invoices from their suppliers, with some amounts remaining outstanding for over a year.

May 2024: LVMH Expands Partnership with Alibaba

On 22 May 2024, LVMH announced that it would expand its partnership with Alibaba to increase its presence in China.

June 2024: LVMH Acquires Swiza, Owner of L'Epée 1839

In June 2024, LVMH acquired Swiza, the owner of L’Epée 1839, a Swiss manufacturer known for high-end clocks and 'horological creations'.

August 6, 2024: Competition Authority Grants Authorization to LVMH for the Acquisition of Paris Match

On August 6, 2024, the Competition Authority grants authorization to LVMH for the acquisition of Paris Match.

October 2024: LVMH Purchases Paris Match

In October 2024, LVMH purchased the French weekly publication Paris Match.

2024: Bernard Arnault's Status in 2024

As of 2024, Bernard Arnault is the chairman, CEO, and largest shareholder of LVMH, making him one of the richest people in the world.

2024: Formula One deal with Rolex Expired

In 2024, Formula One's existing deal with Rolex expired.

2024: LVMH Sponsors Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games

In 2024, LVMH sponsored the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games as a premium partner, investing €150 million. Chaumet designed the medals, Berluti dressed the French delegation, and Moët Hennessy provided products for the events. LVMH also supports a charity providing sports access for vulnerable youth and sponsors athletes like Leon Marchand, with Sephora sponsoring the Olympic torch relay.

2024: Olympic Medals Deteriorate

In 2024, LVMH subsidiary Chaumet designed Olympic medals for the summer Olympics.

2024: Stéphane Bianchi Appointed LVMH Group Managing Director

In 2024, Stéphane Bianchi was appointed LVMH Group Managing Director, responsible for strategic and operational management, overseeing Regions Presidents, and leading the Digital and Data Transformation of the Group. He also serves as Chairman of the LVMH Executive Committee.

January 2025: Olympic Medals Deteriorate

In January 2025, LVMH faced controversy when it was revealed that the Olympic medals created by subsidiary Chaumet for the 2024 Summer Olympics had begun to deteriorate and fall apart, with over 100 medalists requesting replacements.

2025: LVMH to Re-Enter Formula One with TAG Heuer and Louis Vuitton

In 2025, LVMH is set to re-enter Formula One, investing $150 million annually in a multi-year deal. TAG Heuer will return as the Formula One timekeeper, and Louis Vuitton will sponsor the Australian Grand Prix.