François de Combret, the man in the shadows who propelled Bernard Arnault towards the LVMH empire

16 October 2025

François de Combret, the man in the shadows who propelled Bernard Arnault
towards the LVMH empire
A collaborator of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and partner at Lazard, François de Combret
died on October 8 at the age of 84. His role in Bernard Arnault's acquisition of Boussac in
1984, as well as his advice to African leaders alongside George Soros, reveals a troubled
man. An investigation.

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