Cries of joy or indignation followed the publication of the Forbes ranking of the richest personalities in the world. Indeed, the wealthy French Bernard Arnault, president of the LVMH group became the richest man in the world in early April ahead of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Suffice to say that we could boast of having the richest person on Earth on our soil. What will happen to the French ranking unveiled this Thursday, July 6 by Challenges?

One of the highlights of this ranking reveals a significant increase in the accumulated professional assets of these 500 people. In other words, an increase of 17% in one year for a record estimate of 1,170 billion euros is noted for the ranking soon to be published, according to RTL.

By reaching 1,170 billion euros, “the overall fortune of the 500 climbs to all-time highs, relegating far behind last year’s record at 1,002 billion”, notes Challenges. “In 2009, this amount was only 194 billion, representing 10% of the then GDP; today it is 45%” of the production of annual wealth on French soil, writes the magazine.

“Beyond the records, the 2023 edition reveals sectors struggling, due to rising costs, such as distribution”, reports Challenges, citing as an example the contraction of the heritage of Claude Thiriet, number two French frozen food. , or owners of Yves Rocher. And “the unicorns of tech, which had multiplied in recent years, have lost their luster”: a dozen founders of startups valued at more than a billion euros even left the ranking this year and the majority of those who remain are no longer progressing, or even declining.