Elon Musk reclaimed the title of the world’s wealthiest person, overtaking luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault after shares of his LVMH fell 2.6 percent in Paris trading on Wednesday.
Musk and the 74-year-old Frenchman have been neck-and-neck for the top spot this year in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a listing of the world’s 500 richest people.
Arnault first surpassed Elon Musk in December as the tech industry struggled and luxury showed resilience in the face of inflation, Bloomberg reported.
LVMH, which Arnault founded, owns brands including Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Hennessy.
Faith in the luxury sector’s buoyancy is starting to fade amid mounting signs of slowing economic growth, particularly in the critical market of China.
LVMH shares have tumbled about 10 percent since April, at one point wiping $11 billion from Arnault’s net worth in a single day.
Musk, meanwhile, has gained more than $55.3 billion this year, largely due to Tesla. The Austin-based automaker — which comprises 71 percent of his fortune — has rallied 66 percent year-to-date.
Elon Musk’s fortune is now valued at about $192.3 billion, according to the index, while Arnault’s is about $186.6 billion.
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