Michel Chalhoub
Michel Chalhoub was a Syrian-French billionaire, and founder of the Chalhoub Group. As of August 2021, his net worth was estimated at US$1.1 billion.
Early life
Michel Chalhoub was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1931.Career
Michel and Widad Chalhoub started their business in Damascus in 1955. After the successful military coup of Syria and the economic uncertainty, they were compelled to move to Beirut. A decade later, due to the Lebanese Civil War, they relocated to Kuwait where the company flourished and their sons, Anthony and Patrick, joined the Group.In 1990, after the invasion of Kuwait, followed by the Gulf War, they established an exile operation in order to keep the company going.
They ended up controlling about 20% of the region's market in luxury goods.
Personal life
Michel Chalhoub was married to Widad, and they lived in Dubai.Their two sons, Anthony and Patrick, took over as co-CEOs of Chalhoub Group in 2001. After Anthony’s death in 2018, Patrick was the sole CEO. In January 2025, Patrick handed over the CEO position to his son Michael Chalhoub to continue the family legacy.