Top 10 richest French châteaux owners

Bernard Arnault, CEO of French luxury brands conglomerate LVMH and Cheval Blanc, is the richest châteaux owner on the planet, according to a list released by French business paper Challenges.

The publication recently released its Fortune 500 list, counting down France’s wealthiest citizens, with many listed attached to the world of wine.

Taking the top spot was Arnault, who is said to be worth a staggering €34.6 billion. His 60-strong Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton portfolio includes high-end brands including Dom Perignon, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, and Moët Hennessy, as well as Château Cheval Blanc and Yquem in Bordeaux.

But which other château owners are rising up the wealth rankings?

Click through for a rundown of France’s richest château owners…

10. Eric de Rothschild and his family

Worth: €450 million

Position: 138

Château: Château Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Company: Lafite Rothschild

9. Bernard Magrez

Worth: €600 million

Position: 107

Château: Château Pape Clement

Company: Bernard Magrez Great Vineyards

8. Corinne Mentzelopoulos

Worth: €630 million

Position: 104

Château: Château Margaux

Company: Château Margaux

7. Frédéric Rouzaud and his family

Worth: €700 million

Position: 95

Château:  Champagne Louis Roederer, Reims, Champagne

Company: Louis Roederer

6. Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and his siblings

Worth: €750 million

Position: 87

Château: Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Company: Baron Philippe de Rothschild Wine

5. Martin and Olivier Bouygues and their families

Worth: €2.4 billion

Position: 27

Château:  Château Montrose

Company: Bouygues Construction

4. Pierre Castel and his family – Castel Freres

Worth: €7.5 billion

Position: 11

Château: Various – Castel estates and castles

Company: Groupe Castel

4. François Perrodo

Sharing 11th position with Pierre Castel was François Perrod.

Worth: €7.5 billion

Position: 11

Château: Château Labegorce, Margaux, Bordeaux

Company: Perenco, oil and gas

3. François-Henri Pinault and his family

Worth: €12.7 billion

Position: 8

Château: Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Company: Owner of Christie’s, Kering Distribution

2. Alain and Gerard Wertheimer and their families

Worth: €16.5 billion

Position: 7

Château: Château Rauzan Ségla and Chateau Canon

Company: Chanel

1. Serge Dassault and his family

Worth: €17.5 billion

Position: 5

Château: Château Dassault, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux

Company: Marcel Dassault Industrial Group

Other notable chateau owners to make the top 500

• 157 – Jean-François and Jean Moueix and their families, Videlot Wines – €380m
• 160 – Gérard Perse, Château Pavie, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux – €370m
• 194 – Jean-Hubert Delon and Geneviève Alton and their families, Château Leoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux – €320m
• 194 – Bruno Borie and Marie and their families, Château Grand Puy Lacoste, St Julien, Bordeaux  – €320m
• 203 – Carol Duval-Leroy and his family, Duval-Leroy, Champagne – €310m
• 203 – Bollinger Family, Bollinger, Champagne – €310m
• 210 – Alexandra de Nonancourt and his family, Laurent Perrier, Champagne – €300m
• 234 – Hubert and Jean-Bernard Boüard Grenié and their families, Château Angelus, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux – €280m
• 243 – Alain Thiénot, Champagne Thiénot, Champagne – €275m
• 245 – Christian and Edward Moueix and their families – Château Petrus, Pomerol, Bordeaux – €270m
• 249 – Alfred and his family Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux –  €260m
• 253 – Stephanie Faguer and Mahler-Besse family, Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux – €250m
• 253 – Marcel Guigal and his family, Guigal, Rhône– €250m
• 253 – Jean-Michel Cazes and his family, Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux – €250m
• 274 – Aubert de Villaine and his family, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Burgundy – €240m
• 282 – Philippe Cuvelier, Clos Fourtet, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux – € 230m
• 288 – Jean-Claude Boisset and his family, Boisset, Burgundy – € 220m
• 301 – Bruno Paillard, Champagne Bruno Paillard, Champagne – €210m
• 305 – André Lurton and his family, Andre Lurton Vineyards, Bordeaux – €200m
• 305 – Allan Sichel and his family, Sichel, Bordeaux – €200m
• 305 – Joseph Janoueix and family, The Joseph Janoueix Company, Libourne, Bordeaux  – €200m
• 305 – Daniel and Florence Cathiard and family, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux – €200m
• 305 – Alain and Catherine Vauthier and family, Château Ausone, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux – €200m
• 305 – Eric d’Aramon and families, Manoncourt and Aramon, Château Figeac, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux – €200m
• 330 – Paul-François Vranken and his family, Vranken Pommery, Champagne – €180m
• 345 – Michel Chapoutier and his family, Chapoutier, Rhône – €175m
• 349 – Anthony Barton and his family, Château Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux – €170m
• 359 – Louis-Fabrice Latour and his family, Louis Latour, Beaune, Burgundy – €155m