Are you interested to learn some really fun facts about Frederic Arnault?
The fourth son of Bernard Arnault, the chairman and CEO of multinational luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Frederic Arnault was born on November 10, 1995, and is the fourth Arnault child to be involved in the family business. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, or simply LVMH, is a prestigious empire that includes famous brands like TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Dior, Sephora, Givenchy, and around 70 other brands.
Frederic Arnault has held various roles in the family company. Yet during his childhood, his aspiration was to become an architect; however, around the age of 15, he made up his mind to pursue the path of an entrepreneur.
RELATED READ: Facts About Bernard Arnault: The Richest Man In The World
He is proficient in English, German, and Italian languages. In addition, he completed his studies at École Polytechnique, also known as simply l’X, a prestigious institution in France recognized for cultivating exceptional leaders in science and technology.
Read on if you want to learn more fun facts about Frederic Arnault.
Things you'll find in this article
- 10 Fun Facts About Frederic Arnault
- 1. In 2020, Frederic Arnault became the world’s youngest CEO of a luxury watch brand
- 2. His first watch was a TAG Heuer Aquaracer
- 3. He was the second-youngest Arnault to become a CEO
- 4. Apart from his leadership skills and business acumen, Frederic Arnault is also a skilled pianist
- 5. He first worked at a management consulting firm
- 6. Frederic Arnault is rumored to be romantically involved with Lisa Manoban of BLACKPINK
- 7. Instead of artworks, Frederic Arnault collects mentors
- 8. He recruited Ryan Gosling as TAG Heuer’s global ambassador
- 9. Frederic Arnault had other entrepreneurial ventures outside of the family empire
- 10. He is passionate about sports and numbers
10 Fun Facts About Frederic Arnault
1. In 2020, Frederic Arnault became the world’s youngest CEO of a luxury watch brand
At the age of 25 in 2020, he assumed the role of chief executive at TAG Heuer, becoming the world’s youngest CEO of a luxury watch brand. TAG Heuer, short for Techniques d’Avant-Garde, holds the position of the largest watch brand in the LVMH group.
Right from the beginning of this acquisition, the young Arnault was being prepared to assume the role of CEO at TAG Heuer. Stephane Bianchi, then the company’s chief executive and head of the watch business, mentored and developed Frederic Arnault to be his successor. In June 2020, Bianchi passed on the CEO role to Arnault.
Although LVMH doesn’t provide specific revenue figures for individual brands, under Frederic Arnault’s leadership, the watch and jewelry sector generated a revenue of 6.16 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in the first three quarters of the year.
2. His first watch was a TAG Heuer Aquaracer
Frederic Arnault got his first watch, a TAG Heuer Aquaracer, as a gift from his father on his 11th birthday. This coincided with Bernard Arnault’s acquisition of TAG Heuer in 1999, a period when the elder Arnault was attempting to grow their presence in the jewelry and watch industry.
3. He was the second-youngest Arnault to become a CEO
Frederic has made history by becoming the second-youngest CEO in the Arnault family, following in his older brother Alexandre’s footsteps. Alexandre took control of Rimowa at just 24 years old when LVMH acquired it.
Frederic’s appointment is a testament to his exceptional leadership skills and business acumen, which he developed through hard work and dedication over the years. He brings fresh ideas and perspectives to his role as CEO, paving the way for new growth and success.
The Arnault family is renowned for their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence, with Frederic’s promotion being a brilliant example of this legacy.
4. Apart from his leadership skills and business acumen, Frederic Arnault is also a skilled pianist
Frederic Arnault is a well-known name in the corporate world, but few know about his hidden talent as an exceptional pianist. Playing the piano serves as a meditative escape for this young CEO from the demands of his professional life.
What’s truly fascinating to witness is Frederic’s love for Russian composers and Liszt. His sincere appreciation for their music shines through in his skilled and elegant performances. It’s clear that playing the piano brings him immense joy and fulfillment beyond just being a hobby or pastime.
Frederic’s unwavering commitment and devotion to his musical passion is a fine example of how pursuing one’s interests can lead to excellence in various fields.
5. He first worked at a management consulting firm
Frederic Arnault started his professional journey at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm established in 1926, prior to his involvement with LVMH. In addition, Arnault has also earned a Master’s degree in engineering.
6. Frederic Arnault is rumored to be romantically involved with Lisa Manoban of BLACKPINK
K-pop enthusiasts may recognize Frederic Arnault as the alleged boyfriend of Lisa Manoban of the famous Korean girl music group BLACKPINK.
The rumors started circulating in July 2023 when the K-pop singer was spotted numerous times with Frederic Arnault. She was observed having a meal at a Parisian restaurant with a man believed to be the French businessman, sparking speculations about their romantic involvement.
The dating speculations resurfaced in early August when Manoban shared pictures from her vacation in Greece, purportedly with Frederic Arnault, along with his brother Alexandre and sister-in-law Géraldine Guyot.
Lisa Manoban has established official partnerships with various brands such as Celine and Bulgari, all of which have professional associations with Fredrric Arnault. Although there has been no official confirmation from either party, this fascinating detail certainly adds a touch of enigma to the French businessman’s public image.
7. Instead of artworks, Frederic Arnault collects mentors
Unlike his father and brother, Frederic Arnault doesn’t collect art because he feels he’s too young to be doing so. Instead, he collects mentors.
Among these mentors are TAG Heuer’s former CEO, Stephane Bianchi; former CEO of France Telecom and the current European Union commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton; and Tony Fadell, a notable personality in the tech industry recognized for his contributions to the iPod and iPhone.
Arnault met Fadell as a teenager touring the Silicon Valley with his dad and they haven’t lost communication since.
8. He recruited Ryan Gosling as TAG Heuer’s global ambassador
In 2020, Frederic Arnault recruited the Barbie star, Ryan Gosling as the brand ambassador of Tag Heuer in 2020, which profited the brand by folds.
The New York Times hailed Gosling as a dynamic actor, and he continually strives for excellence in his craft, much like TAG Heuer does in its own field. He exudes an effortless coolness that makes him an iconic figure who revels in action-packed roles.
Arnault was drawn to Gosling, in part due to his performance in the 2011 action crime film Drive. Despite the actor’s lack of experience endorsing products or presence on social media, he remained an appealing choice for the TAG Heuer CEO.
9. Frederic Arnault had other entrepreneurial ventures outside of the family empire
Frederic Arnault has diverse entrepreneurial ventures, not limited to his involvement with TAG Heuer and LVMH. He is a co-founder of Amorçage, a venture capital fund that specializes in supporting early-stage technology startups. In addition, he and a friend successfully launched and sold their mobile payment startup within 18 months to BNP, a French investment firm.
10. He is passionate about sports and numbers
Like the other Arnault children and their father, Frederic Arnault is also involved in tennis. In fact, he has engaged in tennis matches with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Roger Federer himself.
Apart from tennis, Arnault has interests in activities like running, kite-surfing, and golf. He frequently teams up with one of his brothers to play doubles against their father and a professional player.
Frederic Arnault also derives great pleasure from indulging in the strategic games of chess and backgammon, citing his passion for mathematics and numbers as the driving force behind his enjoyment.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.