BERNARD ARNAULT

I am not a financier. I am a builder. And luxury is not a product, it is a culture.

The secret of luxury is quality and exclusivity. The moment you lose those two things, you no longer have luxury.

I look for brands that have what I call a 'star' quality — both timeless and modern at the same time. That combination is very rare.

To be creative, you need a certain freedom. My role is to create the conditions in which creativity can flourish — and then get out of the way.

In luxury, you never compromise on quality. The day you accept a small compromise, you have accepted the principle of compromise.

The Chinese market taught us something very important: aspiration is universal. People everywhere want to be part of something beautiful and rare.