Château owners dominate new French rich list

Owning a château is still a prerequisite for joining French high society, it seems, after a summer of acquisitions in Bordeaux.

In St-Emilion, the Moueix family bought Clos La Madeleine and Magnan La Gaffelière, while Troplong Mondot exchanged hands for a reportedly record fee, rumoured at more than € 5 million/ha.

In the ‘ 500 Wealthiest in France’ list, published this summer by Challenges magazine, six of the top 10 names hold connections to the wine world.

The richest man in France was named as Bernard Arnault, owner of LVMH, which has jewels such as Yquem, Cheval Blanc and Krug festooning its portfolio.

In sixth place, with € 21 billion, are Alain and Gérard Wertheimer of Chanel, who are also owners of Châteaux Canon and Rauzan-Ségla.

And seventh place goes to François Pinault at € 19 billion, owner of Châteaux Latour and Siuarac in Bordeaux, as well as Grillet, Eugénie and Eisele further afield.