Bernard Arnault

Bling is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH-maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho. Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour. Built Le Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to spend New Year's Eve. Father, Jean, who died in January, made small fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund Arnault's move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods. Still a family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on LVMH's board. Wife is a concert pianist; Arnault himself reported to be an excellent piano player.