It isn’t easy being a high school dropout and becoming one of the biggest billionaires in the world. Meet François Pinault (born 21 August 1936), French billionaire businessman, founder of the luxury group Kering (which owns fashion brands Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci), and the investment company Artémis. He is one of the most celebrated billionaires in France owing to his smart business techniques and strategies.

His story is one of true hard work and determination to become successful. Pinault started his group of holdings, Artémis which is today, the leading luxury consortium in the world. He has more than fifteen of the world’s ultimate and best luxury brands working under him and Artémis is one of the main sources of his wealth.

Pinault founded Kering, which started as a wood and building materials company, in 1963. The business grew strongly. His group bought several companies facing bankruptcy, in particular Chapelle Darblay, and relaunched them. Taken public in 1988, the company invested in a specialized retail business and changed its name to Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) in 1993. By the end of 1999, PPR shifted towards luxury and fashion.

In March 1999, Pinault changed the direction of the business towards luxury goods when he bought a controlling 42% stake in Gucci Group for $3 billion and bought the Yves Saint Laurent company. Pinault then purchased the French jewelry company Boucheron in 2000, Balenciaga in 2001, and the British fashion house Alexander McQueen. In 2003, he passed on the management of his companies to his elder son François-Henri to follow his passion for contemporary art.

Pinault is a major contemporary art collector and began pursuing contemporary and modern art as a new business avenue. This is in line with versatile thinking to always figure out different ways to make money. Knowing that he has one of the most coveted art collections in the world, Pinault purchased the iconic and biggest art auction house in the world, Christie's, plus a 3,000-piece art collection with works by Picasso, Mondrian, and Koons. He is the topmost ranked person in the world of art collectors today owing to his wide and amazing art collection.

François Pinault is also a well-known philanthropist and has donated $109 million to the rebuilding of Notre Dame cathedral following the April 2019 fire.

As of 2020, Pinault was ranked by Forbes as the 27th richest person in the world, with now an estimated net worth of US$46.5 billion.

A man who loves to live in style but his hunger for more has seen him surpass all other businessmen in France in terms of a variety of businesses. He owns amongst others, Samsonite luggage carriers, Chateau Latour, Vail Ski Resort in Colorado, one of the hottest properties for skiing, and Converse Shoes. This is in addition to the several other luxury brands owned.

François Pinault is a self-made billionaire who started from scratch.
He is a shining role model and an inspiration to many people not only in France but all over the world.