Gérard Wertheimer, who owns Chanel in partnership with his brother Alain, is ranked No. 49 on the Forbes 2026 World’s Billionaires list, tied with him, with a net worth of $39.4 billion.
Gérard Paul Philippe Wertheimer was born on April 17, 1951, to a Jewish family, the son of Jacques Wertheimer and Eliane Fischer. He is based in New York City and Geneva. His grandfather, Pierre Wertheimer, co-founded Chanel with Coco Chanel.
Net Worth and Rank
- Forbes 2026 list: No. 49 (tied with Alain Wertheimer), with $39.4 billion
- Source of wealth: his half-share of Chanel
Chanel
Gérard owns Chanel in partnership with his brother Alain, who runs the company. Gérard chairs its watch division. Under Alain the company bought other brands, including Eres, Tanner Krolle and, until 2021, Holland & Holland. The brothers’ family office, Mousse Partners, manages their fortune. Alain’s profile is in Alain Wertheimer’s biography.
Wine and Horses
- Vineyards: the brothers own Château Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux and Château Canon in Saint-Émilion, which Wikipedia says have won strong reviews, as well as vineyards in Napa Valley
- Racing: both are keen equestrians who run the family’s thoroughbred stable, La Presle Farm, racing in the United States and, as Wertheimer et Frère, in France
Personal Life
He is married to Valérie (née Picavet), a former nurse, who is active in child protection charities. They have two children, Olivia and David Wertheimer, and live in New York City and Switzerland.
Why It Matters
Chanel is a private company, so the Wertheimers’ wealth is estimated from the value of the business, and the two brothers are among the richest people in France.
Net worth figures change daily with share prices. Rankings here follow the Forbes 2026 World’s Billionaires list, with wealth measured on March 1, 2026.
Image: Château Canon in Saint-Émilion, a wine estate owned by the Wertheimer family (file photo, 2016; Gérard Wertheimer is not pictured). Photo: Chateau canon / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
