Johann Rupert

Johann Rupert is a prominent South African business magnate. He holds the position of Chairman at both Richemont, a Swiss-based luxury-goods company, and Remgro, headquartered in South Africa.

Rupert oversees a prestigious portfolio of luxury brands, which includes renowned fashion labels such as Azzedine Alaïa, Chloé, and Dunhill, as well as esteemed jewelry and watch brands like Van Cleef & Arpels, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier. In a significant move in 2010, his group acquired full ownership of the luxury e-commerce platform Net-a-Porter in a deal exceeding $500 million.

Since his arrival at Richemont in 1984, Rupert has been credited with enhancing the company’s status in the luxury sector. He holds the majority of shares in the parent company, Compagnie Financière Richemont, and oversees the investment activities of Remgro.

Richemont was founded by Rupert in 1988 as a spin-off of Rembrandt Group Limited, established by his father. In 1993, he divided the group’s tobacco and luxury goods divisions into separate subsidiaries, with Vendôme Luxury Group managing the latter’s interests. Subsequently, in 1998, Rupert merged Vendôme into Richemont, launching a growth strategy that involved acquiring brands like Azzedine Alaïa, Roger Dubuis, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Furthermore, in 2007, he formed a joint venture with Polo Ralph Lauren to establish the Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Company.