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The 13 Largest Luxury Companies in the World
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Explore the fascinating heritage and brands of the largest luxury companies on the globe, entities that not only define but continually reshape the landscape of high-end lifestyle. This article lists and visualizes the 13 largest luxury companies in the world by market capitalization, delving deeper into the brand portfolios and heritage of the top five.
The 13 Largest Public Luxury Companies Listed By Market Cap:
LVMH $459B
Hermès $273B
Richemont $90.2B
Ferrari $77.7B
Kering $49.3B
Moncler $20.0B
Prada $19.5B
Brunello Cucinelli $7.7B
RH $5.7B
Burberry Group $5.4b
Capri Holdings $5.3b
Ermenegildo Zegna $3.8b
Salvatore Ferragamo $2.0b
LVMH
Market Cap: $459 billion
Revenue (TTM): €86.2 billion
Net Income (TTM): €15.2 billion
Year Founded: 1987
LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) stands as the world's largest luxury goods company and one of the largest companies globally. It is renowned for its extensive portfolio of 75 prestigious brands, among which Louis Vuitton is the most valuable by a wide margin. Louis Vuitton is estimated to contribute approximately one-third of LVMH's total sales and half of its profits.
Besides fashion & leather goods, which is the largest segment within the group, LVMH operates in a diverse range of sectors. These include wines & spirits, perfumes & cosmetics, watches & jewelry, selective retailing, and other activities. Its brand portfolio features prominent names such as Dior, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Fendi, Givenchy, Loro Piana, Dom Pérignon, and Moët & Chandon, among others. LVMH's operational scale is remarkable, with revenues reaching €79.2 billion in 2022, operating over 5,600 stores globally and employing more than 196,000 people.
As a family-run business, LVMH emphasizes the long-term development of each of its brands, often referred to as 'Houses' or 'Maisons.' Every one of these houses maintains their unique identities, heritage, and expertise, with many of them having a history stretching over 100 years. In a notable display of family involvement, all five children of founder and CEO Bernard Arnault hold senior positions within the company. For instance, his eldest, Delphine Arnault, serves as the CEO of Dior, while her younger brother Antoine Arnault holds the role of CEO at the family's holding company, Christian Dior SE.
Further reading: Inside LVMH: The Arnault Family and the Empire's Next Generation
Hermès
Market Cap: $273 billion
Revenue (TTM): €13.4 billion
Net Income (TTM): €4.3 billion
Year Founded: 1837
With a history dating back to 1837, Hermès began as a harness workshop in Paris. Today, it has evolved into a brand synonymous with luxury, boasting an extensive range of products including leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches, and ready-to-wear. The main difference between Hermès and LVMH is that Hermès operates under one single brand, while LVMH, as aforementioned, owns and operates 75 different houses.
Hermès' most iconic products are the Birkin and Kelly bags. These handcrafted pieces are renowned for their long waiting lists and high resale values, reinforcing the brand's reputation for unparalleled quality and desirability. The brand's commitment to craftsmanship is evident in its meticulous production processes, use of high-quality materials, and maintenance of all production aspects in-house. This foundation, coupled with a consciously limited production volume to foster exclusivity and desirability, has made the Birkin and Kelly bags two of the most successful handbags ever created. A fun fact on this topic: Victoria Beckham is rumored to have a collection of over 100 Birkin bags, valued at more than $2 million.
Financially, Hermès has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, even during challenging economic times. As of 2023, the company reported revenues of €13.4 billion. This figure makes LVMH roughly six times larger than Hermès in terms of revenue. However, it is interesting to note that LVMH's market value is only ~70% larger than that of Hermès. This indicates that the market places significant value on Hermès' extreme strategies regarding brand and heritage preservation.
Family ownership and management remain central to Hermès' identity. Currently under the leadership of Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation family member, Hermès has maintained its reputation for quality and craftsmanship for almost two centuries. The Dumas family, the fifth richest family in the world as of 2024, still holds a significant portion of the company's shares and ensures the brand's continuity and adherence to its core values.
Further reading: Hermès: Two Centuries of Craftsmanship and Excellence
Compagnie Financiere Richemont
Market Cap: $90.2 billion
Revenue (TTM): €20.5 billion
Net Income (TTM): €4 billion
Year Founded: 1988
Originally part of a group with interests in both mining and luxury goods, Richemont shifted its focus exclusively to luxury goods in 2000 with the acquisition of renowned Swiss watchmakers A. Lange & Söhne, IWC Schaffhausen, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Richemont's operations extend across various luxury segments, including high-end jewelry, prestigious watches, and premium leather goods. Its impressive brand portfolio includes esteemed names such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, Piaget, IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, and Cartier.
As of January 2024, Richemont is ranked as the third-largest luxury conglomerate. Significant control of the company is held by Compagnie Financière Rupert, owned by Johann Rupert, the group's Chairman, who possesses 51% of the voting rights.
Further reading: The Story of Richemont: From Tobacco to Luxury Dominance
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Ferrari
Market Cap: $77.7 billion
Revenue (TTM): €6 billion
Net Income (TTM): €1.3 billion
Year Founded: 1939
Ferrari, an icon of automotive excellence and luxury, stands as a pinnacle in the world of high-performance sports cars. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari, the company initially started as a racecar manufacturer and entered the commercial vehicle market in 1947 with the Ferrari 125 S. Today, Ferrari is celebrated not only for its remarkable contributions to motorsports but also for its exclusive line of luxury road vehicles.
Ferrari's waiting lists for new cars are growing daily. Some models, such as the new Purosangue SUV, have waitlists extending up to three years. Despite this, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna often states that the company has no plans to increase production to meet the high demand.
Ferrari's focus is not on high production volume. Instead, they place great emphasis on respecting their clients, who are extremely important to the brand. The uniqueness, limited availability, and exclusivity of their cars enhance the value in the eyes of the clients, thereby increasing the brand's prestige. While this strategy may seem counterintuitive, it is simple and effective. If Ferrari were to increase production and sell more cars, it could risk diminishing the exclusivity that their clients value. This arguably positions Ferrari as the Hermès of the automotive world.
Having said that, it's insightful to examine the gross margin across various auto manufacturers, which we consider a reliable indicator of their pricing power. Below is a visual representation illustrating the gross margins of some of the most renowned auto manufacturers globally:
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Further reading: Pricing Power Through Scarcity: A Case Study of Ferrari
Kering
Market Cap: $49.3 billion
Revenue (TTM): €19.6 billion
Net Income (TTM): €3 billion
Year Founded: 1963
Kering, established in 1963, started as a timber and building materials company in France. It has since transformed into a global luxury group, renowned for its diverse portfolio of iconic fashion brands. Kering's brands include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, each with its own unique identity and heritage. Notably, Gucci contributes approximately 50% of the group's revenue.
Further reading: Kering's Rise to Power: The Epic Battle for Gucci
Under the leadership of François-Henri Pinault, the Pinault family plays a significant role in guiding Kering. The founder of Kering, François Pinault, initially established the company in 1963 as a wood and building materials business. In a significant shift in 1999, Pinault steered the business towards the luxury goods sector by acquiring a controlling stake in the Gucci Group.
This acquisition faced significant competition, particularly from their rival Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH. The conflict between the two former friends escalated over Gucci, as LVMH already owned a stake in the company when Pinault entered his bid. The New York Times characterized their legal dispute as one of the most intense in corporate history.
Ultimately, LVMH sold its Gucci stake to Kering (at the time called PPR), yet the rivalry between these two titans of wealth and influence continues. For instance, in response to the 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral fire, the Pinault family pledged 100 million euros for its restoration, only to be surpassed shortly after by the Arnault family's 200 million contribution.
The 13 Largest Public Luxury Companies by Market Cap Visualized:
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