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FRONTRUNNERFORBES.COM DECEMBER 31, 20 19BYKRISTINSTOLLERhe impeccably tailored Bernard Arnault, chief
executive of French luxury powerhouse LVMH, graced
the cover of our November 30 issue, newly enshrined
as the world’s third-richest man, with a $100 billion
fortune. Famed and disdained in equal measure for his
often predatory business instincts, the family man—
four of Arnault’s five children work under him, by all accounts harmoni-
ously—has spent the last several years engaging in a variety of corporate
partnerships and acquisitions that have helped LVMH’s stock, along
with his own net worth, soar. Famed: “Absolutely genius and deserving
of his success,” wrote reader Stanley Lam on Facebook. “Inherits and
sells the family construction business to reinvent himself into a fashion
powerhouse.” And disdained: “Bank your own hustle... don’t bank his,”
wrote Stephanie SH, also on Facebook. “Nothing [Arnault] sells is a
necessity for the middle class, or anyone, really. His products have huge
carbon footprints. Nothing to celebrate here except his hustle. He’s not
leaving the world a better place.”148,828 views The Just 100
97,555 Bigelow Tea Has Steadfastly Stayed Upscale in a Down-Market World. All It Took Was Bagging the Family Drama
76,712 The $100 Billion Man: How Bernard Arnault Stitched Together the World’s Third-Biggest Fortune
52,152 How Clever New Deals and an Unknown Tax Dodge Are Creating Buyout Billionaires by the Dozen
51,296 Nipsey’s Never-Ending Hustle: Inside the Rapper’s $11 Million Payday
28,727 Dawn of the Neobank: The Fintechs Trying to Kill the Corner Bank
24,697 What Trade War? Meet the Brilliant Quant Who’s Bullish on China
7,978 THE BOMB: A Star Professor and Her Radical, AI-Powered Plan to Discover New Drugs
THE INTEREST GRAPHJUST THE WAY THEY ARE
Some of the CEOs and companies lauded
on this year’s third annual “Just 100” list
of America’s best corporate citizens made
sure their social-media fans knew all about it.T
@FDESOUZA,
CEO, ILLUMINA:
“We’re committed
to just business and
doing right by all our
stakeholders. Honored
to be included in the 2020
rankings of America’s most
JUST companies. Thank
you @Forbes, @justcapital_
and all our employees for
making @illumina a special
place. #JUST100”DAN SCHULMAN, CEO,
PAYPAL: “I’m so honored.
Almost five years ago, we
set out to create the new
PayPal to have a clear
vision, inspiring mission and
strong values. It’s amazing
to see the return this
investment has had on our
company and the world.”@TOMLEIGHTONAKAM,
CEO, AKAMAI:
“@justcapital_ & @Forbes
rank @Akamai #33 out of
922 U.S. publicly traded
cos. for fair pay, work-life
balance, equal opportunity,
ethical leadership, customer
treatment & privacy,
community support,
sustainability and delivering
shareholder return.”@HERSHEYCOMPANY:
“So proud to have
@Forbes name us as a
Just 100 company! We’re
honored to be recognized
among other leading
companies for our
commitment to our
employees and the
environment.”@JULIESWEET, CEO, ACCENTURE:
“JUST business is better business.
We are proud to be recognized on this
year’s #AmericasMostJUST Companies
list. Thank you @justcapital_ and
@Forbes for the honor.”@JGSILVERMAN,
CEO, ETSY:
“We’re working hard
at @Etsy to prove we
can be a great citizen
and a great company
at the same time!
Amazing to see the
recognition this week
in @FastCo and
@Forbes.”Conversation
THE LUXE LIFE