François Pinault & family

$27.80 B

Ranked #82 in World

About François Pinault & family

François Pinault, the French billionaire businessman and founder of Kering and Artémis, was born on August 21, 1936, in Les Champs-Géraux, France. He began his career in the timber industry in the 1960s, eventually taking his company public in 1988 and expanding into specialty store chains, leading to a shift towards luxury and fashion by the end of 1999. In 2003, he passed on the management of his companies to his son François-Henri to pursue his passion for contemporary art. Pinault has also made significant contributions to the art world through his extensive art collection, ongoing renovation projects, and philanthropic efforts.

Born

August 21, 1936

Age

89 years

Source Of Wealth

Luxury Goods

Industries

Fashion & Retail

Citizenship

France

Residence

Paris

Education

Drop Out, High School

François Pinault was born on 21 August 1936 in Les Champs-Géraux, France. He grew up in the rural French countryside and began his career working for his family's timber business. Pinault dropped out of school at the age of 16 and enlisted in the military during the Algerian war. After returning from the war, he rejoined the family business, which he later sold following his father's death.

François Pinault & family: Family

François Pinault married Louise Gautier in 1962 and had three children with her. However, the couple divorced five years later. In 1970, he married Maryvonne Campbell, who introduced him to the world of art. Pinault is the father-in-law of actress and producer Salma Hayek.

François Pinault & family: Career Highlights

François Pinault started his first business in 1963 as a wood-trading company. His company, Pinault SA, grew strongly and diversified its portfolio by acquiring several companies facing bankruptcy, including Chapelle Darblay. In 1988, Pinault SA was taken public in the Paris stock exchange and started to invest in specialty store chains. Pinault acquired a majority stake in CFAO, Conforama, Printemps, La Redoute, and Fnac. Pinault SA was renamed Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) in 1993.

In 1992, Pinault set up the holding company Artémis to manage the Pinault family's investments. Artémis controls vineyards, the news magazine Le Point, the auction house Christie's, the luxury cruise company Ponant, and the Rennes football club.

By the end of the 1990s, François Pinault started to shift his business focus from retail to luxury. In March 1999, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute purchased a controlling 42% stake of the Gucci Group for $3 billion and bought the Yves Saint Laurent company. Pinault then purchased Boucheron in 2000, Balenciaga in 2001, and Alexander McQueen.

In May 2003, he handed over the management of his companies to his son François-Henri who pursued the consolidation of the luxury group with new acquisitions and changed the group's name to Kering in 2013.

François Pinault & family: Companies

François Pinault is the founder of Kering, a luxury goods conglomerate that owns brands such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and Boucheron.

He is also the founder of Artémis, a holding company that controls vineyards, the news magazine Le Point, the auction house Christie's, the luxury cruise company Ponant, and the Rennes football club.

François Pinault & family: Major Achievements

François Pinault is credited with transforming a small family timber business into a global luxury goods empire. He is also known for his extensive art collection and his commitment to philanthropy.

François Pinault & family: Awards & Achievements

François Pinault has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to business and the arts. Some of his notable awards include the Military Value Cross (1958), Breton of the Year by Armor Magazine (2006), Most influential personality in the art world by ArtReview (2006, 2007), Grand officier de la Légion d'honneur (2011), Grand Officer of the Ordine della Stella d'Italia (2016), and Grand Croix de la Légion d'honneur (2017).

François Pinault & family: Personal Life & Legacy

François Pinault is known for his private and reserved nature. He is passionate about contemporary art and has built an extensive collection of over 10,000 works. Pinault is also a philanthropist and has made significant contributions to environmental causes and the restoration of historical buildings.

François Pinault & family: Trivia

François Pinault is the father-in-law of actress and producer Salma Hayek. He is also a licensed helicopter pilot and enjoys flying.

Wealth History

Timeline

21 August 1936

François Pinault is born in Les Champs-Géraux, France.

Early 1960s

François Pinault starts his business in the timber industry.

1963

François Pinault starts his first business, a wood-trading company.

1980

François Pinault buys his first significant painting.

1988

Pinault SA is taken public in the Paris stock exchange.

1992

François Pinault sets up the holding company Artémis to manage the Pinault family's investments.

1993

Pinault SA is renamed Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR).

1999

Pinault-Printemps-Redoute purchases a controlling 42% stake of the Gucci Group for $3 billion, and buys the Yves Saint Laurent company.

2000

François Pinault purchases Boucheron.

2001

François Pinault purchases Balenciaga.

2003

François Pinault hands over the management of his companies to his son François-Henri.

2005

François Pinault buys the company Palazzo Grassi SpA which operated the Palazzo Grassi in Venice.

2006

The Japanese architect Tadao Ando renovates the historical building which housed the first exhibition of Pinault Collection in Venice.

2007

The Venice city council awarded the tender of the Punta della Dogana to Pinault Collection, adding 5,000 m² to the Palazzo Grassi space in Venice.

2013

François Pinault achieves the third chapter of his cultural project in Venice with the renovation and transformation of the Teatrino.

2014

François Pinault launches, through the Pinault Collection, an artist residency program in Lens (Northern France) which opened in 2015.

2015

François Pinault creates the Pierre Daix Prize to reward an outstanding book on modern and contemporary art every year.

2016

François Pinault and the city of Paris announce their plan to turn the Bourse de commerce in the center of Paris into a new, Pinault Collection-branded contemporary art museum.

2019

François Pinault pledges 100 million euros to the reconstruction of Notre Dame de Paris after the fire.

François Pinault & family : FAQs

What is François Pinault's current net worth?

François Pinault's current net worth is $27.80 billion.

What is François Pinault's current global rank among billionaires?

François Pinault holds the 82nd position globally among billionaires.

What is François Pinault's current ranking within the France?

François Pinault holds the 5th position in France.

What was the change in François Pinault's net worth compared to the previous year?

François Pinault's net worth increased by 1.79 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 26.00 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in François Pinault's net worth?

François Pinault's net worth increased by 75.31 million dollars recently, a 0.27% increase, with his net worth standing at 27.80 billion dollars.

What are François Pinault's main sources of wealth?

François Pinault's main source of income comes from Luxury Goods.

In which industry does François Pinault primarily operate?

François Pinault is primarily involved in the Fashion & Retail industry.

What is François Pinault educational background?

François Pinault is a dropout from High School.

How old is François Pinault?

François Pinault is 89 years old.

How many children does François Pinault have?

François Pinault has 3 children.

Who is François Pinault and what is he known for?

François Pinault is a French billionaire businessman, founder of the luxury group Kering and the investment firm Artémis. Known for his ventures in the luxury fashion industry and his extensive contemporary art collection, he has also been involved in reforestation projects and restoring historical buildings.

How did François Pinault begin his career and what led to his shift toward luxury and fashion?

François Pinault started his career in the timber industry in the early 1960s with his family's business. After taking his company public in 1988, he expanded into specialty store chains. By the end of 1999, he shifted his business focus towards luxury and fashion, including acquiring a controlling stake in the Gucci Group.

What significant steps has François Pinault taken in the art world?

François Pinault is a major player in the art world, with a collection of around 10,000 works. He renovated Venice's Palazzo Grassi to showcase his art collection and launched an artist residency program in Lens, France. Additionally, he's financing the creation of a new contemporary art museum in the historic Bourse de commerce in Paris.

What are some of François Pinault's other commitments outside of business and art?

Beyond business and art, François Pinault has committed to various philanthropic efforts. These include financing reforestation projects, restoring historical buildings like Victor Hugo's house, and pledging 100 million euros to the reconstruction of Notre Dame de Paris after the devastating fire in 2019.