Nobody knows for sure if there is a paradise in heaven, but here, on earth, it is definitely for many, because the life lead by dozens of prosperous, rich and happy people cannot be called paradise. Of these minions of fate, of course, applies to François-Henri Pinault. In March 2013, according to Forbes magazine, the Pino family owned a fortune of $ 15 billion. It’s hard to deny yourself at least something when the whole world is in your palm. But was the younger Francois Pinault always happy or did thunderclouds appear on his horizon?
Pedigree
Grandfather Francois-Henri Pinault was a simple timber merchant in Brittany, a province in northwestern France. The father of the future billionaire was sent to school, but did not shine with academic success. He was more attracted to business than lessons. Therefore, at the age of 16, the young man left school and tried to start his own business, earning money where necessary. Having achieved nothing substantial, he went to Algeria. What Francois Pinault Sr. did there is unknown, but he returned home with the amount of money that allowed him to marry. The choice fell on Louise Gauthier, the daughter of a wood supplier. Dowry and equity made it possible to finally open their own business. Francois Pinault, in his incomplete 27 years, became a wood merchant. Meanwhile, three children appeared one after another in the family, the eldest of whom is our hero Francois-Henri Pinault. The boy was about 4 years old when his parents divorced. Louise Gauthier did not show herself after the divorce, so there is practically no information about her. And Pino Sr. actively increased his wealth, picking up new companies by hook or by crook, and gradually brought his fortune to $ 8 billion.
Francois-Henri Pinault: biography
The life of this person can safely be called happy. From childhood he lived in abundance and did not know great difficulties. The only dark spot - the divorce of parents - did little to obscure the boy’s existence, since his father always took a direct part in his life. Francois-Henri Pinault was born in 1962, May 28, so that he will soon turn 54 years old. He has siblings Domenic and sister Lawrence and half-sister Florence. Francois Sr., who himself had never experienced a special craving for science, decided to give his children the best and most prestigious education. Francois-Henri Pinault graduated from the European Business School in Paris in 1985, and also served in the French Consulate in Los Angeles. In 1987, he successfully began his career in the team of PPR, now known as Kering.
Career
Thanks to the fame of his father, who was friends with Jacques Chirac himself , his solid capital and his brilliant business qualities, François-Henri Pinault quickly moved up the ranks. After a year of work in the company, namely in 1988, he became the manager of the procurement department, and in the next - in 1989 - the general manager of France Bois Industries. His career soared up at lightning speed. So, in 1993, Pino was appointed CEO of CFAO, in 1997 - Director General of FNAC, and in 2000 he was already vice president and president of the board of FNAC, the largest French retail chain specializing in electronic and cultural products. In 2001, François-Henri Pinault became a member of the Kering Security Council, in 2003 the vice-president of this council plus the president of Artemis, presented to him by his father. In 2007, Pino, in addition to all regalia, became president of the PUMA executive committee, and in 2001 he headed the Kering holding, which includes the most famous world brands.
First marriage
Many believe that it is in no way written by the handsome Francois-Henri Pinault. Photos of this man, taken at different times, demonstrate an ordinary man with the most ordinary appearance, but for some reason he always has the most beautiful women. The first wife of Pino was Dorothea Leper. The marriage lasted only 8 years (1996-2004), during which the son of Francois (born in 1997) and daughter Matilda (born in 1999) managed to be born. After a divorce, a billionaire father maintains the warmest relations with children. So, they even held flowers during their dad’s wedding ceremony with actress Salma Hayek.
An affair with Linda Evangelista
Since Francois-Henri Pinault himself is used to shining in society and always feels like a fish in the water in the world of luxury, he also chooses women who are luxurious and brilliant. One of them was the model of Linda Evangelista, famous for the phrase that she would not do anything for less than ten thousand dollars, but would not even get out of bed. Pinot got acquainted with a new passion in September 2005, but already in January 2006 the couple fled. The most trivial reason is the pregnancy of her lover and her unwillingness to have an abortion. Francois-Henri Pinault and Linda Evangelista did not just become strangers to each other, they started the war in court, first for recognizing paternity of model born son Augustine (2006), then for child support in the amount of $ 46 thousand per month. The billionaire, who spends much more on his whims, believes that the amount of child support is too large. Linda, on the contrary, assures that this is exactly the money that is needed to pay for the staff (nannies, security guards, drivers and others) who look after her son while she is busy with her daily bread. Pinaud, in court, as additional arguments explaining his unwillingness to help his son, states that he insisted on an abortion and never intended to marry Linda, because he did not even know her properly.
Second wife and first big love
Salma Hayek is well known to our viewers in the once sensational films “Faculty”, “Bandits”, “From Dusk Till Dawn”. As an actress, she started in her homeland in Mexico, then went to conquer Hollywood, where she achieved considerable success. Only in her personal life did she have victories without success. In 2006, she met Francois-Henri Pinault and at first considered their relationship her next novel. But the incredible happened: Salma became pregnant at the age of 40, and her gentleman was glad of this. The actress had already begun to think about a family nest, but scandals broke out with Linda Evangelista, although Pino begged his former passion to regret Salma, who was very hard on her late pregnancy. In 2007, finally, the long-awaited daughter Valentina Paloma was born, and in 2008 the couple broke up.
Wedding
The quarrel between the lovers lasted only a few months, from summer to autumn. Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault sealed their union with modest painting on Valentine's Day 2009. After two and a half months, namely April 25, they decided to arrange a second wedding, this time lush and luxurious. It took place in an old and very beautiful castle, and the wedding took place in the theater La Fenice. On the eve of the celebration, the couple organized a masquerade ball. A special dress code was introduced for guests - dresses of the Venetian era and mandatory masks. The wedding was worth about $ 4 million, but the happy Pinot allowed his wife-bride not to worry about expenses and not to deny herself anything. This wedding became famous not only for its thematic organization, but also for the presence of the most famous personalities in the world. Even Jacques Chirac and his wife came to the celebration, effectively landing in front of the castle in their own helicopter.
Weekdays Francois-Henri Pinault
This person not only lives in luxury, but also works a lot. True, in the world of business they say that he follows in the footsteps of his father, especially not disdaining anything. The basis of such judgments is the scandal with stolen paintings exhibited as lots at Christie's auction, owned by Pino.
The youngest daughter of Francois-Henri Pinault also got excited. The date of birth of the girl is July 21, 2007. Until recently, doctors had suggested that she had Down syndrome, but the child, fortunately, is healthy and develops normally.
Billionaire Pino can afford to buy the best real estate in any country in the world, but he is not always lucky with neighbors. So, recently one of them shot a beloved family of a shepherd named Mozart, claiming that a good and gentle dog threatened his life. And although almost 50 animals live on the Pino ranch, many of which were picked up on the street to save their lives, the death of Mozart's Pino family was very difficult.
Despite minor problems, the life of Francois-Henri Pinault passes in perfect harmony. His business is developing successfully, he himself does not have a soul in his wife and daughter and spends all his free time with them.