Bernard Arnault, Emperor of Luxury and The World

Bernard Arnault — who with his family now tops the wealth of Elon Musk — gradually built LVMH into a global luxury empire by buying up iconic brands, sealing his reputation as a formidable and insatiable businessman.

With $184 billion on Thursday, the 73-year-old Frenchman and his family moved to the top of Forbes’ billionaire list, knocking the Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter boss off the top spot.

LVMH — the world’s leading luxury group — boasts more than 75 brands, acquired over time.

They include some of the most recognisable names in fashion and prestige goods, from Louis Vuitton and Kenzo to Moet Hennessy and Tiffany.

“An essential quality in our family is patience,” Arnault acknowledged in a 2012 TV profile of him.

A decade later — by which time LVMH’s annual sales had more than doubled to over 64 billion euros ($68 billion) — he told France’s Radio Classique: “We can continue to progress — but let’s be patient.

“No rush,” he said.