Nicolas Puech, the 81-year-old heir to the luxury fashion brand Hermès, has made headlines with his startling claim that a substantial portion of his wealth has vanished. Nicolas Puech, a descendant of the brand’s founder, Thierry Hermès, alleged that 6 million Hermès shares—valued at approximately $13 billion (₹10,000 crore)—have disappeared.
Nicolas Puech had previously vowed to leave half of his fortune to his former gardener, who he also planned to adopt. However, the sudden loss of these shares has raised questions and led Nicolas Puech to accuse his former wealth manager, who had been with him for two decades, of being involved in the disappearance. Despite these serious allegations, a Swiss court dismissed Nicolas Puech’s claims, citing a lack of evidence and describing the alleged fraud as “undetectable to common mortals.”
The shares, which had been deposited in a Geneva bank in 2012, are currently unaccounted for, leaving Nicolas Puech’s substantial fortune in question. Nicolas Puech, who owns 5.7% of Hermès, making him the largest individual shareholder, is now grappling with the legal and financial implications of this sudden turn of events. His current net worth stands at around $11.7 billion, according to Forbes, positioning him as the 161st richest person in the world.
The gardener and handyman, originally from Morocco and 51 years old, had worked for Nicolas Puech for decades. Despite the promise of a significant inheritance, details about him remain limited.
