Nicolas Puech, Who Has No Kids and Wife, Is Awarding His Gardener $11bn and $5.9m Properties

Nicolas Puech, the heir to the renowned fashion dynasty Hermès, is allegedly involved in an extraordinary succession saga, which includes the adoption of his 51-year-old gardener, Aso Naija Reports.

The billionaire, who is eighty years old and unmarried with no children, reportedly intends to legally designate his “former gardener and handyman,” hailing from a “modest Moroccan family,” as his rightful heir, according to the Swiss publication Tribune de Geneve.

Furthermore, this decision to pass on his substantial wealth and real estate properties to his gardener has generated significant speculation.

Puech, a fifth-generation descendant of Thierry Hermès, the founder of the luxury fashion house in 1837, holds a considerable stake in the company, which is now valued at $220 billion.

He ranks among Switzerland’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth ranging from $10.3 billion to $11.4 billion.

• It is alleged that Nicolas Puech has initiated legal proceedings, supported by a formidable legal team, to formalize the gardener’s adoption, which is a critical component of his revised estate arrangements.

The gardener is said to be married to a woman from Spain and has two children of their own.

They stand to inherit a significant portion of Puech’s fortune, which includes substantial properties in Marrakesh, Morocco, and Montreux, Switzerland, valued at $5.9 million.

To understand the motivation behind this choice of heir, one must consider Puech’s history with Hermès.

In 2014, a bitter rift emerged when LVMH, a rival luxury conglomerate, acquired a substantial stake in Hermès, triggering a contentious battle within the family.

Puech’s departure from the company’s board during this tumultuous period indicated irreparable discord with his family members.

“At the time, he resigned because he had felt besieged by members of his family, who had attacked him on various fronts, not solely regarding LVMH,” explained a spokesperson for Puech.

However, Puech’s unconventional plan faces significant challenges as it navigates complex legal hurdles for adult adoption, a remarkably rare occurrence in Switzerland.

Reports suggest that the requirements for such adoptions demand a pre-existing relationship during the adoptee’s minor years, which could potentially prove challenging to fulfill.