LVMH, the French luxury group, owns 75 maisons including Givenchy, Tiffany & Co., and Dom Pérignon. Many of those iconic brands have long rich histories, but LVMH itself is surprisingly young, formed through a contentious 1987 merger between Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton, with Bernard Arnault seizing control two years later through an audacious financial manoeuvr. Arnault's journey began in 1984 when he acquired the twice-bankrupt Boussac textile empire, risking his family's entire fortune. Restructuring required closing factories and eliminating thousands of jobs, but he preserved iconic brands including Christian Dior. When tensions between Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton erupted after their merger, Arnault orchestrated a masterful takeover, forming a joint venture with Guinness to amass a major stake in the company. Under Arnault's leadership, LVMH's market capitalisation soared from €11 billion to over €300 billion. His biggest contribution is perhaps long-term thinking. With Arnault as the majority shareholder, LVMH is insulated from the short-term pressures of the stock market, enabling the company to patiently invest in brand building, creative talent, and strategic acquisitions.