Bernard Arnault is the chairman and chief executive of the world's biggest luxury conglomerate, LVMH, and one of the richest men in France.

Other businessmen usually describe Mr Arnault as cutthroat. At a reception held by LVMH at the Musee d'Orsay on May 30th, The Margin saw firsthand that the French billionaire's manners are not as elegant as his suits.

The Margin was talking with Mr Jean-Pierre Claverie, who runs LVMH's corporate patronage of the arts, when Mr Arnault grabbed Mr Claverie by the arm and pulled him away - not so much as an "excuse me".

A few minutes later, Mr Arnault, his wife - the concert pianist Helene Grimaud - and two sons walked to their chauffeur-driven limousine. Doormen held both back doors open. Mr Arnault got in first, forcing his wife and children to walk around the car and climb in after him.