Stories
Luxury Leader Bernard Arnault Grows Richer
Bernard Arnault is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy, which is the world’s largest luxury goods company. He is also the richest man in Europe with a net worth of $ 94.1 billion. Bernard Arnault further expanded his existing fortune by adding $ 5.1 billion in October 2019, making his net worth $ 99.6 billion.
The rise in his fortune is all thanks to the strong sales at LVMH Moët Hennessy. The luxury house reported its sales grew by 17 % in the third quarter of 2019.
In 2019, LVMH faced a possible threat of decline in sales due to protests in Hong Kong, which slowed down the economy in China. China is an important hotspot for many luxury brands as it contributes 5 % to 10 % of all global luxury sales, according to money management firm Bernstein Research. Despite the threat, the Paris based luxury house still saw a rise in its sales worldwide, especially in Asia.
According to reports released by LVMH, its sales grew by 12 % in Asia alone. The Company further reported its fashion and leather goods division saw an increase by 19 %, which was led by Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. It also reported its makeup division did well, especially in China.
The main reason behind LVMH not facing any decrease in its sales is the large number of brands the Company owns. LVMH has over 75 brands under its name, including Louis Vuitton, Versace, Fendi, Bulgari and Dior. Hence, any disruption in sales of any one brand will not affect the Company in any major manner.
This proved beneficial to Bernard Arnault as his fortune is growing with the rising sales of his Company. Arnault became the third richest man in the world in June 2019. His net worth at the time was close to $ 100.4 billion. However, due to a fall in shares, his net worth went below the $ 100 billion mark. Now, with the rise in the sales of his Company, Bernard Arnault once more came closer to the centibillionaire status.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
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