Let’s be honest: when you hear “richest person in the world,” your brain conjures a cartoon character—Scrooge McDuck diving into a vault, or maybe Tony Stark sipping scotch in a flying suit. The reality, as of early 2025, is far more nuanced, and surprisingly relatable.
Today, that title belongs to Bernard Arnault, the French billionaire behind the LVMH luxury empire—think Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Tiffany & Co. This isn’t a tech bro in a hoodie; it’s a 75-year-old man who loves classical piano and collects Belgian art. Go figure.
The Luxury King’s Daily Grind
Arnault doesn’t live like a Bond villain. He reportedly starts his day at 6:30 a.m., often with a simple espresso and a croissant. No gold-flaked avocado toast.
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His routine revolves around family—five of his children hold top roles at LVMH. That’s right, the world’s richest man still does family meetings over breakfast. Practical tip: you don’t need billions to implement a solid morning ritual; try waking up just thirty minutes earlier tomorrow, and don’t touch your phone for the first ten minutes.
Fun fact: Arnault once said his favorite purchase was a $50,000 watch—but he wears a simple Swatch on weekends. The irony isn’t lost on anyone. Even kings need a day off from the crown.
What Does Money Mean When You Have it All?
Most billionaires I’ve read about hit a weird plateau. After the third private jet, the thrill fades. Arnault’s joy, according to interviews, comes from the chase—buying heritage brands and turning them into global sensations.
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He also lives in a 16th-century Parisian mansion but still takes the Métro sometimes (yes, really). Cultural reference: think of him as the Jay Gatsby who actually earned his green light, but with fewer dramatic parties and more board meetings.
Practical takeaway: you don’t need a yacht to feel rich. Try this small win today—buy a high-quality version of something you use daily, like a leather wallet or a good coffee mug. That little upgrade can shift your whole vibe.
How He Spends (and Saves)
Warren Buffett famously avoids fancy cars. Arnault? He owns a Bugatti, but claims he only drives it to art exhibitions. The real flex isn’t the car—it’s the discipline behind the purchase.
Richest Man In The World
His security team runs a tighter ship than the White House. Yet he insists on eating lunch at a simple bistro near his office. Table two, regular order: a steak frites and a glass of Bordeaux. That’s it.
Fun fact: Arnault’s net worth fluctuates by about $5 billion in a single day. That’s more than most people will earn in 50 lifetimes. But he still checks his email like the rest of us—just from a yacht off Corsica.
What We Can Actually Learn
Okay, you’re never going to own a diamond mine. But the habits of the world’s richest person offer weirdly useful life hacks. First, focus on one thing: Arnault doesn’t spread his energy across 50 industries. He stuck to luxury goods since the 1980s. Pick your lane and stay there.
Second, curate your circle. He surrounds himself with artists, designers, and family—not flashy strangers. Your friend group is your net worth, but in emotional currency. That’s free.
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Finally, embrace boring consistency. Arnault has been doing the same morning walk, same coffee, same routine for decades. You don’t need a Ferrari; you just need to show up on Tuesday the same way you showed up on Monday.
The One Thing Money Can’t Buy
Here’s the twist. Even Bernard Arnault admits in rare interviews that his greatest regret is time lost with family during LVMH’s early growth years. He once told a reporter: “I have 100 suits. I need only five.”
It’s a quiet confession that human longing doesn’t scale with net worth. The richest person still craves a quiet dinner with his kids, a moment without emails, a laugh that doesn’t have a price tag. That’s the great equalizer.
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Cultural reference: think of this like the final scene in The Wolf of Wall Street—all the money, but the soul feels empty. Except Arnault caught himself in time.
Reflection for Your Daily Life
So where does that leave you, scrolling on your couch at 11 p.m.? You already have something the richest person can’t buy: anonymity and freedom. You can walk into any park without security. You can eat street tacos without a PR team approving the cilantro ratio.
Practical tip: tonight, put away your phone. Sit somewhere quiet for five minutes. No music, no podcasts, no goals. That silence? That’s the luxury that billionaires chase but rarely catch. The richest person in the world might own the Louvre, but you own the fact that you can still feel alive without a price tag.
In the end, wealth is just a tool. The real treasure is waking up tomorrow and deciding what kind of king or queen you want to be—even if your throne is a worn-in couch and your crown is a coffee mug. That, my friend, is a fortune you already hold.