Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
- Ones of the heirs to Hermès could leave half his fortune to his former gardener, the Tribune de Genève reported.
- Nicolas Puech, a descendent of Hermès' founder, plans to adopt the 51 year old, per the report.
- Forbes estimates Puech's net worth at $11.7 billion, making him the world's 161st-richest person.
Ones of the heirs to Hermès, who is single and has no children, could leave half his fortune to his former gardener and handyman, according to Swiss publication Tribune de Genève.
Nicolas Puech, a descendent of Thierry Hermès who founded the luxury French fashion house in 1837 when he opened a store in Paris selling saddles, wants to leave a big chunk of his wealth to his former gardener, who he's planning on adopting.
The Tribune de Genève reported that Puech owns 5.7% of Hermès' capital. Though it's only a small portion, it makes him its largest individual shareholder. Forbes estimates Puech's net worth at $11.7 billion, making him the world's 161st-richest person.
The domestic help has worked for Puech for decades, becoming his gardener, handyman, and residence manager, the Tribune de Genève reported. The publication didn't name the man, who is currently 51 and originally from Morocco.
The Tribune de Genève reported that the man got married and had two children. The couple essentially became Puech's only family, and he referred to them as his "children" and "adopted son," the publication reported.
Puech gave the couple more than 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) in 2015 to buy a villa in Marrakech, Morocco, the Tribune de Genève reported. The couple have also amassed various estates and around 50 pieces of agricultural land in Spain and Portugal as well as a villa in Montreux, Switzerland that's worth more than $4.5 million, the report says.
Puech has told a lawyer to start adoption proceedings and is waiting for authorities to make a decision, per the report. The Tribune de Genève reported that if this is successful, the man could inherit at least half of Puech's fortune.
Puech had previously agreed to pass on his money to the foundation he set up in 2011 upon his death, the publication reported. The Isocrates Foundation funds investigative public-interest journalism and Puech serves as its president.
Hermès reported 11.6 billion euros (about $12.7 billion) in revenues and 3.4 billion euros ($3.7 billion) in net profit in 2022.