French billionaire Bernard Arnault prolonged his lead as the world’s richest man even as indignant protesters stormed the Paris headquarters of his luxury goods company LVMH, escalating the blow to a controversial overhaul of France’s pension system.
The estimated fortune of Arnault, the 74-year-old CEO and president of LVMH, jumped nearly $12 billion to $210 billion by Thursday – the same day a crowd of union activists was caught on video climbing the escalator in an effort to achieve his office on the well-to-do Avenue Montaigne.
Arnault’s personal fortune is now at an all-time high the latest data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He’s roughly $30 billion richer than Elon Musk, the second richest man in the world with an estimated net price of $180 billion.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ranks third on Bloomberg’s list with $126 billion, followed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with $122 billion and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett with $113 billion.
French protesters directed criticism at Arnault while rejecting President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to lift the country’s retirement age by two years to 64 by 2030. Macron argued that the move was vital to make sure the solvency of the French pension system.
![Bernard Arnault](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009617518.jpg?w=1024)
In response to Reuters, Arnault was “a frequent goal of slogans and chants during protests in France”.
But critics say France should as an alternative turn to the country’s wealthy to cover any shortcomings in the system.
“In case you’re on the lookout for money to fund pensions, take it from the pockets of billionaires,” Sud Rail union representative Fabien Villedieu said on Thursday.
![France protests](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009557397-1.jpg?w=1024)
France’s Constitutional Council approved Macron’s plan on Friday, despite months-long protests that gathered a whole bunch of hundreds of participants. The choice paved the way for Macron to lift the retirement age inside 15 days.
Earlier this week, Macron pledged to satisfy union leaders after the council’s decision to seek out common ground.
![France protests](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009556252.jpg?w=1024)
Arnault’s latest rise in wealth got here as LVMH shares hit an all-time high in trading in Paris on Thursday, as the company reported a surge in sales after China’s economy reopened following COVID-19 lockdowns.
LVMH’s brands include Tiffany & Co., Christian Dior, Fendi as well as its namesake Louis Vuitton.
The conglomerate ranks amongst the most precious shares in Europe in terms of market capitalization Wall Street Journal.
![Bernard Arnault](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009617380.jpg?w=1024)
![France protests](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009556271.jpg?w=1024)
This 12 months alone, Arnault’s fortune has increased by nearly $48 billion during a protracted rally in the company’s stock.
With postal wires