Hélène Mercier had a good married life, my grandmother would have said when she married Bernard Arnold in 1991. Already, the director of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE was sitting on one of France's biggest fortunes. But she never thought that one day he would make her the richest wife in the world.
Bloomberg last year crowned the French luxury mogul “the world's richest man,” with an estimated net worth of $162 billion, ahead of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who have shared the super-rich podium for some time. . (Earlier this year, he lost his top job to the tweeting activist and e-commerce mogul, whose fortunes have continued to fluctuate with the ups and downs of his stock market shares.)
Despite her status as a wealthy first lady, Mme Mercier-Arnold is far from a lady. His career as a concert pianist has taken him from Prague to Shanghai, playing with the biggest orchestras on the planet. It is enough to feed her three children well without constantly waiting for her husband's salary on the table.
Hélène Mercier-Arnault was born on March 5, 1960 in Montreal. He m.e François Mercier (1923-2010), founding member of the Stikeman Elliott law firm, and Lucile Rouleau (1921-2021), real estate agent. His family's history is as impressive as his fortunes.
Ancestor
Ancestor Charles Mercier, better known as Lajoie (1735-1817), a soldier in Perry's regiment, arrived in New France in 1757 and saved the colony, threatened more than ever. He took part in at least two important battles: Fort Carillon (1758), where Montcombe's 4,000 soldiers prevailed over 16,000 British, and Saint-Foy (1760), won by Vaudreuil and Levi's troops.
The following year, he married the 14-year-old young Marie-Ann Lahaise (1746–1825), a fourth-generation Canadian who bore him 15 children. The couple settled in Lachenai's Prabhu.
During the rebellions of 1837–1838, three of his grandsons, including François Mercier (1805–1886), were part of Groups 38 and 75 of the Patriots of Saint-Roch-de-Lachennais.
The latter's son, Joseph Mercier (1833–1899), was a coach manufacturer. His brother François-Xavier (1837-1906), a strong man of 6 feet 3 inches, a great traveler, co-founded the Fort Reliance Company in the Yukon. He traded furs as far as Siberia.
Joseph's son, Oscar-Félix Mercier (1866–1929), was a surgeon, as was his son Oscar (1898–1945). Trained in Paris, the latter was the first French-Canadian urologist. A professor and vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal, he died tragically, drowning in front of his helpless wife and son at his chalet in Saint-Hippolyte-de-Kilkenny.
He was the grandfather of the woman who would one day become the richest wife on the planet.
America's Merciers weren't really born for bread.
Helene Mercier-Arnold's paternal line
I. Mercier, François (1923-2010)
Rouleau, Lucille (1921-2021)
Married May 25, 1946, Saint-Jacques, Montreal
II. Mercier, Oscar (1898-1945)
Brune, Jean (1900-1987)
Mr. July 12, 1922, Notre-Dame de Montreal
III. Mercier, Oscar-Felix (1866-1929)
Rowland, Alexina (1875?-1933)
Mr. June 4, 1895, Notre-Dame de Montreal
IV. Mercier, Joseph (1833-1899)
Kathier, Joe (1831-1908)
Mr. April 5, 1855, Warrens
V. Mercier, François (1805-1886)
Therrien, Victoire (1807-1871)
Mr. Nov. 3, 1829, penit
VI. Mercier, Joseph (1777-1821)
Lazabelle, Marie-Catherine (1781-1854)
Mr. Nov. 17, 1800, penitence
VII. Mercier, Charles (1735-1817)
Lahaise, Marion (1746-1825)
Mr. June 22, 1761, Assumption
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