In a surprising twist to the narrative of wealth and inheritance, 80-year-old Nicolas Puech, the heir to the Hermès fortune, is making headlines for his unconventional decision regarding the distribution of his substantial wealth. Reportedly planning to pass down billions of dollars, estimated between $10 billion and $11 billion, Puech has chosen his “former gardener and handyman,” a 51-year-old man of Moroccan descent, as his designated heir.
The move, as reported by Swiss publication Tribune de Genève, challenges conventional expectations of inheritance within wealthy dynasties. With Puech being unmarried and having no direct heirs, the decision to entrust a significant portion of the Hermès fortune to an individual from outside the family has raised eyebrows.
Puech, the fifth-generation heir of Thierry Hermès, the founder of the iconic fashion house in 1837, owns between 5% and 6% of Hermès. His net worth, tied to the valuation of the Hermès fortune at over $220 billion, makes this inheritance one of the most significant wealth transfers in recent times.
Legal proceedings are said to be underway to solidify the former gardener’s status as the heir. The undisclosed inheritor, married to a woman from Spain and with his own family, is also set to receive properties in Marrakesh, Morocco, and Montreux, Switzerland, valued at $5.9 million.
Puech’s decision comes against the backdrop of family tensions, as he resigned from the Hermès supervisory board in 2014 amid disputes related to LVMH’s acquisition of a significant stake in Hermès. The move reflects Puech’s desire to redefine his legacy and redistribute wealth in a manner that extends beyond conventional family lines.