Eighty-year-old billionaire, Nicolas Puech, scion of the iconic fashion dynasty Hermès, is allegedly orchestrating a staggering succession saga that involves adopting his 51-year-old gardener.
Puech, unmarried and without children, plans to legally designate his “former gardener and handyman” from a “modest Moroccan family” as his rightful heir, as reported by the Swiss publication Tribune de Genève.
This unorthodox move to pass on his immense wealth and real-estate properties to his gardener has sparked intense speculation.
Puech, a fifth-generation descendant of Thierry Hermès, who laid the foundation of the luxury fashion house in 1837, commands a considerable share in the now $220 billion-valued company, ranking among Switzerland’s wealthiest individuals with an estimated worth of $10.3 billion to $11.4 billion.
Allegedly, Puech has initiated legal proceedings, supported by a formidable legal team, to formalize the gardener’s adoption, which forms a crucial part of his revised estate arrangements.
The gardener is reportedly married to a woman from Spain, with two children of their own, and stands to inherit a significant portion of Puech’s fortune, which includes acquiring substantial properties in Marrakesh, Morocco and Montreux, Switzerland valued at $5.9 million.
Hermès did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Delving into Puech’s history with Hermès provides a glimpse into the motivation behind this atypical choice for his heir.
A bitter rift emerged in 2014 when LVMH, a rival luxury conglomerate, acquired a substantial stake in Hermès, sparking an acrimonious battle within the family.
Puech’s departure from the company’s board amid this turmoil signaled irreparable discord with his kin.
