He left his billion-dollar fortune to his gardener: Who is Nicolas Puech?

Nicolas Puech, the 80-year-old heir of Hermes, one of the world's largest fashion companies, is known as the 5th generation grandson of Thierry Hermès, the founder of Hermès, one of the French and worldwide luxury goods manufacturers. 80-year-old billionaire Puech surprised his family and the whole world with his inheritance decision on who would inherit his fortune.

While the identity of his gardener, who was also wondered by the French press, is unknown, it is stated that Puech has almost never met with his family in recent years.

Nicolas Puech (born 1943) is a French billionaire heir and businessman, a fifth-generation descendant of Thierry Hermès. He resigned from the company's supervisory board in 2014, but still owns 5% of Hermès. As of 2023, his fortune is valued at €12 billion.

Puech, who owns 5.7 percent of Hermès, previously said he would donate his wealth to a foundation. However, he later changed his decision and sent a new inheritance petition to the foundation. This unexpected decision had a shocking effect on the foundation.

HE WILL ADOPT HIS GARDENER FOR INHERITANCE PROCEDURES

Puech is first considering adopting his 51-year-old gardener due to the difficulties experienced in leaving an inheritance to a person who is not a direct family member. However, since adopting an adult child in Switzerland is a complex task, it is stated that this situation can lead to a potentially risky legal battle.

HE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS FAMILY BEFORE

Puech left the Hermès board in 2014 following a hostile takeover attempt by fashion rival LVMH. But he kept his shares, making him one of the richest people in Switzerland.

Hermès, France's third largest publicly traded company with a value of approximately $200 billion, has frequently been the subject of media attention. However, this latest development has renewed curiosity about the future of the company's long-established family.

Hermès International S.A. is a French luxury design house established on June 15th 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Since the 1950s, its logo has been a depiction of a ducal horse-drawn carriage.

Although Puech is single and childless, he has cut off contact with many people connected to his family. This inheritance decision made by the 80-year-old billionaire caused great turmoil in his family.