Billionaire Bernard Arnault once drove a Peugeot 205 GTI - worth about $12,000 - to work and was refused entry by a security guard who did not believe that a tycoon would use such a "cheap" car.
Not all billionaires drive supercars. Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH and currently the fifth richest person in the world , used to drive a Peugeot 205 GTI, which costs about $12,000, to work. As a result, the company's security even refused to let him into the building because they did not believe that a rich person would use such a "cheap" car.
In the 1990s, when Arnault's fortune increased sharply, he chose a moderately priced car to travel. He bought a Peugeot 205 GTI - a small car, for daily use. Unlike most billionaires with luxury cars or flashy limousines, the "boss" of luxury goods owns a very simple car.
He is not interested in using a supercar but in practicality and safety. According to Motorionline, the billionaire has refitted this car for security reasons. The compact car is also covered with B2 armor, which protects against small and medium-sized bullets, has bulletproof windows and the weight of the car has also increased significantly.
The only “expensive” feature of this Peugeot is the “genuine” leather interior. Despite the armor, the car still has a low-key appearance – something Arnault wanted. It also allows the tycoon to move around without attracting attention.
However, this “strategy” led to an unexpected and quite funny moment. When Arnault arrived at work, the security guard even asked him to leave. This person did not know the billionaire’s identity and found it hard to believe that a super-rich person like Arnault was driving such an ordinary car.
Arnault’s Peugeot 205 GTI is now a collector’s item. It sold at auction in 2018 for around $40,000 and is now back on the market with an asking price of nearly $66,000 — far exceeding what many would expect for a similar car.
Arnault now runs the LVMH luxury goods empire, which includes 75 luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Sephora. While his net worth fluctuates—he recently lost $54 billion due to a drop in LVMH stock—his story about driving a mid-range car shows that not all billionaires brag about their lavish lifestyles.
Vu Lam (According to Yahoo Finance)
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/the-bi-hai-chua-ty-phu-giau-thu-5-the-gioi-bi-bao-ve-tu-choi-cho-vao-toa-nha-vi-chi-lai-xe-chiec-gia-300-trieu-dong-di-lam-172241104071845288.htm
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