I bet the name Hélène Mercier doesn’t ring a bell when mentioned to those who don’t know the power her husband commands. The 64-year-old is married to the second-richest man on the planet, Benard Arnault who has been described as a business mogul, investor, and art collector.
Despite having access to so much money, Hélène has maintained relevance as a pianist who is considered to be one of the greatest in the world. She is renowned for her simplicity and humble lifestyle.
Here are 10 Never-Heard Facts about Hélène Mercier
1. She’s a Canadian Born
Hélène was born to her parents on Febuary 5 1960 in Montreal, Quebec. There is limited information as regards her early childhood, and immediate family however we garnered that she grew up alongside her three older siblings. Sadly, one of them which Hélène remembers in her book as a great violist passed on. The cause of her death has not been revealed.
Her education revolved around the world of music. She was first enrolled at the Vincent d’Indy School of Music at the age of 6 and then proceeded to the Vienne Academy of Music at the age of 15. Moving on, Hélène moved to New York City to join the Julliard School of Music.
2. Her Passion For Music Was Discovered When She Was Six Years Old
Hélène expressed raw musical talent from the age of six, which was noticed by her parents and teachers. The emotions that accompanied her voice made her an unforgettable child singer and saw her win the first prize in the namesux competition at the age of six. This was the reason her parents got her enrolled in a music school.
3. She is an Internationally Recognized Pianist
Hélène’s music journey saw her learn several instruments and become a piano expert. Over the years she has held concerts in cities such as Vienna, Sydney, Lucerne, Paris, and Japan. In 2018 she was invited for a special performance at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The pianist was also a performer at the ‘Rudolfinum’ in Prague, the ‘Megaron Hall’ In Athens, the Conservatory and Flagey Hall in Brussels, and the ‘Lingotto Auditorium’ in Italy.
Hélène has performed with great artists like Louis Lortie, Renaud Capuçon, Boris Berezovsky, and Frank Braley to name a few. She has also been seen in the company of influential orchestras such as Zubin Mehta, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Spivakov, and the National Philharmonic of Russia. At present Hélène Mercier is considered to be one of the greatest concert pianists in the world.
Read Also: Teddy Jack Is Leon Russell’s Son: Is He Also A Musician? Other Facts
4. Hélène’s Husband is the Second Richest Man in The World.
As mentioned earlier, Hélène is married to Bernard Arnault, the second richest person in the world next to Elon Musk after overtaking Jeff Bezos. He is the mastermind behind the world’s largest luxury goods company, LVMH Group which owns Louis Vitton, Christain Dior, and Givenchy. He has been the group’s CEO and major shareholder since 1989 and recorded a lot of success. One of his fast-rising brands is Tiffany and co which he purchased sometime in 2019.
Hélène first locked eyes with her husband in 1989 at a dinner party they were both invited to. As you would have already guessed the connection between them was instant that they became friends almost immediately. As the story goes, Benard was quick to state his love for music as well as being a pianist and young Hélène asked him to play something for her which probably swept her off her feet.
Hélène and Benard exchanged vows on September 23 1991 in a ceremony that was said to have only 5 persons in attendance. The pair have held on to their commitment since then and will be celebrating their 31st anniversary by September 23, 2022.
5. The Pianist Husband Was Previously Married in 1973
Before Hélène and Bernard Arnault became an item, the latter was previously married to Anne Dewavrin. The pair were said to have tied the knot sometime in 1973 sadly their marriage hit the rock in 1990 and resulted in a divorce. The couple never made the reason for their separation known even though it has been linked to irreconcilable differences by many sources.
The union between the 75-year-old billionaire and his former wife Anne Dewavrin birthed two children Antoine and Delphine who are all grown up and business magnates as well.
- Delphine Arnault
She is the only daughter of the Arnault and was born in the year 1975 and celebrates her birthday on the 4th of April yearly. The 49-year-old is married to Alessandro Vallarino Gancia. She is also involved in the family’s business and makes good input as the VP of Louis Vuitton. Delphine is considered to be one of the youngest and richest female entrepreneurs in the world.
- Antoine Arnault
Born on June 4, 1977, the 47-year-old is the head of communication at LVMH. He also occupies the position of managing director of Berluti and president of Lora Piana both of which are part of the LVMH group of companies. He is married to his longtime girlfriend Natalia Vodianova who is a Russian model.
6. Hélène Mercier’s Three Sons Are Business Magnates
The pianist’s union with Bernard Arnault birthed three children namely, Alexandre, Frederic, and Jean who have all followed in the footsteps of the father.
- Alexandre Arnault
The Vice president at Tiffany & Co was born on May 5 1992 and is vast in French, English, and German. He is the oldest son from Bernard’s marriage to Hélène.
Alexandre got married to a young designer named Geraldine in 2021 in an all-expensive ceremony that was held in Venice. In attendance were young billionaires including Roger Federer, Pharrell Williams, the Carters, and Kanye West.
- Frédéric Arnault
The second son of Hélène and was born in the year 1995 and he is currently 29 years old. He was made the chief executive at TAG Heuer at the age of 25. He has served in the position for over 2 years and he’s considered one of Arnault’s most talented. Frédéric is a lover of good music and a skilled player of piano and tennis. Like his older brother, he is also fluent in three languages.
- Jean Arnault
He is the youngest child of Arnault’s family and was born on October 24, 1998. At present, he is the director of marketing and development for the Louis Vuitton watches which were launched in 2003.
7. She Wanted Her Children to Pursue a Career in Music
Parents have been said to influence 70% of their children’s career choices however, it seems like Hélène’s husband took the highest percentage. All her three children as solely rooted in the family’s business and have earned great positions following their hard work.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that they are not passionate about music. Her oldest son Alexandre revealed that they all share a passion for music just like their mother and can also play the piano to a great extent. Well, one can’t tell if they consider making a career in music in their next lives since this is already taken.
The brother’s disclosed that their mother had always expressed her thoughts for them to be musicians. Adding that she would support them if they ever wanted a career from it. But then they made their choice.
8. How Rich is Hélène Mercier
Although Hélène’s husband has trapped so much wealth, his wife has also carved a name for herself as a renowned pianist who is recognized internationally. While her life of simplicity makes it difficult to establish her exact net worth, she has been estimated to be worth at least $500 million throughout her career.
On the other hand, her husband’s position as the second world’s richest man affords her any luxury she could dare to dream of. He is estimated to be worth $119.4 Billion. A major part of his wealth comes from his fashion and cosmetic brands which satisfy the needs of clients worldwide.
9. Hélène Mercier a Great Philanthropist
Hélène and Bernard are very generous when it concerns giving back to society. In 2019, the family made an unexpected pledge of $222 million to help build back the Notre Dome Cathedral in Paris that was destroyed by fire on April 15, 2019. They have also done other applaudable charity works on and off records.
10. How She Spends Her Free Time
According to research, most billionaires spend their free time making more money while others tour around the world, go to the gym or focus on a hobby. Hélène belongs somewhere in between the two classes. She enjoys family time and keeps up with her grandmother’s responsibilities. She also keeps in touch with her piano.
