Friday, March 11, 2011

French billionaires


The French may not be good at high-tech products or industry in general (even though we have a few blue chip companies, like Alstom, the maker of the TGV (bullet train)), there is one area in which we excel: luxury! It was not really surprising therefore to find out today in the 2010 world's billionaire list made by Forbes, that among the 5 richest Frenchmen in the list, 4 owe luxury businesses : Bernard Arnault (LVMH), Liliane Bettencourt (L'Oréal), François Pinault (Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent...) and Alain et Gérard Wertheimer (Chanel). The first one - Bernard Arnault - is even the 4th richest man on earth and the richest one in Europe...

25 comments:

  1. Wow - that's quite a list. May the French continue to supply the world with pleasure! And may I soon get the chance to come back to France for the real deal!!

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  2. At least they make something real, even if for a luxury market. It's better than just trading paper back and forth!

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  3. Do what you know best, I say! And the French surely know how to provide luxe to the rest of us poor slobs.
    (Been wearing YSL's Paris perfume for at least 30 years. Maybe it's time to try this one.)

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  4. Luxury, indeed. I'm feeling a little trip to Cartier pretty soon. Anyone needs anything? ;)

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  5. Yes, Tomate Farcie! Anything will do nicely, thank you for your sweet offer.

    Oh, and I love your Dancing Tomato! I smile everytime I see it.

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  6. ABBA - Money, Money, Money....it's a rich man's world.
    But thanks to Eric I am rich enough to have PDP every morning:)

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  7. Now I may be difficult, but I wouldn't call L'Oreal a luxury product :)
    I agree though, the French are very good at maintaining the standards of their brands. LV was the victim of counterfeit a long time, but they are still running well!

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  8. Sorry Eric, but the TGV isn't the bullet train, there's only one bullet train and that's the Shinkansen, the TGV is the TGV!

    Richard

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  11. Yes but is he a friend of yours Eric?

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  12. Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy just about sums up the Luxe Life...n'est-ce-pas?!?!?

    As far as L'Oreal goes....it has it's hands in plenty of high end brands such as Lancome, YSL Cosmetics (Alexa!) and fragrances, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Diesel & Paloma Picasso Fragrances and cosmetics...they are the largest beauty products company in the world! They also own the Body Shop chain of stores and a chunk of Sanofi-Aventis, the largest pharmaceutical firm in Europe!

    If they have been making Alexa smell so sweet for all these years, they are surely doing something right!!!

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  13. Luxury and appreciation of beauty... ;) those you are good about!

    By the way Am I right an today is PDP anniversary? If so... Félicitations Eric for all the beauty you have brought.
    :)

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  14. Luxury brands, I'd probably never pay for them, but I like having them around! (and I did just receive some Chanel perfume..it's not what I would have chosen, but I do like it. :)

    The poster you shot is just gorgeous. Oh, for a real sunset and the Eiffel Tower while I am wearing a gorgeous dress...

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  15. All I know is, you Eric have been making our lives more rich for the past years thanks to your daily photos.

    That being said, it's time to whish a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PDP!!!!!!

    (what is it, 6 years now?!)

    (Monica from Rio, still not managing to log in)

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  16. Hey, Maru and Anonymous-Monica are right!
    "11 March 2005 - 11 March 2011"

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PDP ;-)

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  17. Igor: "So Teninstein, your creation still lives, these six years past?"
    Teninstein: "Yes, but how could I know what I had unleashed, it has become a Monster!"
    Monster: "You are my creator, but I am your master - obey!"

    (with aplologies to Mary Shelley)

    Happy Birthday Daily Photo Monster!

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  18. And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the days in your years....Happy B-Day PDP!

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  19. Eric, I did not realize that today was PDP's Birthday! Thank you for all your beautiful work. You've created not only a great place to share your love of Paris, but also a very wonderful community. Cheers, to you and Paris Daily Photo!

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  20. How could I forget?? It's the same day as my mom's—and wouldn't it be nice if PDP stuck around for 91 years too?! Bon anniversaire, mon capitain!

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  21. I know, I know, I feel so ashame you have no idea. In fact, I had in mind March 19 so I was not really in a hurry to find the perfect photo to celebrate!

    And now I just realized... (Well actually Monica realized!)

    You know PDP and I, it's just like and old couple, we forget our anniversary ;-)

    And BTW Alexa, since we're into celebration, please give my regards to your mother (and I'l telling you, I won't run PDP, until I'm 91!!).

    Anyway, thank you to the ones who already wished me a happy anniversary, my tomorrow's post will be dedicated to this "passed event" !

    And yes Drummond you're right (well Mary Shelley is), I think this sentence really applies well today "Monster: "You are my creator, but I am your master - obey!""

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  22. So shall we say then..."Vive la Luxe!!??"...Hmmmm??? Cartier tomate??...I'll meet you at Van Cleef and Arpels then...bring cash!

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  23. I thought it was today! Happy birthday, PDP! Paris Daily Photo is a big luxury in my life. Merci, Eric, for this great pleasure and inspiration. I look forward to tomorrow's official post!

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  24. Luxury, indeed. I'm feeling a little trip to Cartier pretty soon. Anyone needs anything? ;I just needed to say that I found your site via Goolge and I am glad I did. Keep up the good work and I will make sure to bookmark you for when I have more free time away from the books. Thanks again!

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  25. Ah, so glad Monica brought it to your attention. I hope none of us ever begin to take PDP for granted :-). We love PDP and the community around the world you engendered with one photo a day. Happy, happy 6th blogoversary, Eric!
    -Kim

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