One of the French Riviera’s most discreet yet dazzling hotels has just changed hands. Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, has acquired the legendary Cap Estel in Èze through his holding company, Groupe Agache, in a deal estimated at €200 million.
Perched on its own two-hectare peninsula, hidden between Monaco and Cap-Ferrat, Cap Estel has long been considered one of the Riviera’s greatest treasures. With just 20 suites and rooms, sweeping gardens, a spa, a gourmet restaurant and even a giant chessboard overlooking the sea, the property combines total discretion with Belle Époque splendour.
Media outlets including Nice-Matin and CFNews Immo report that the transaction sets a new benchmark in European luxury hospitality, with a valuation exceeding €10 million per key — far higher than the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, sold for €3.5 million per key, or Cap Eden Roc in Antibes, at €5 to €6 million per key.
A storied past steeped in glamour
Since its construction in 1899 by Irish publisher Franck Harris, confidant of Oscar Wilde, Cap Estel has passed through the hands of aristocrats, artists and industrialists. By the mid-20th century it had become a glamorous hideaway for Hollywood royalty, welcoming Greta Garbo, David Niven, Anthony Quinn and even the Beatles.
Renovated in the early 2000s, the property retained its Belle Époque charm while becoming one of the most private luxury hotels in the world — part residence, part retreat, part legend.
Arnault’s Riviera footprint expands
With this acquisition, Bernard Arnault adds Cap Estel to a growing collection of Riviera properties. In 2016, he acquired La Résidence de la Pinède in Saint-Tropez (today Cheval Blanc St-Tropez), a five-star hotel set directly on the Gulf. His 101-metre yacht Symphony is a familiar presence between Monaco and Saint-Tropez, underscoring his long-standing affection for the region.
Further afield, Arnault has also expanded his holdings in Paris. In 2005, he purchased a mansion in the 7th arrondissement from the widow of Jean-Luc Lagardère for €25 million. In 2019, he added another hôtel particulier of 670 m², formerly belonging to couturier Emanuel Ungaro, for €55 million. He also recently secured two adjoining buildings in the same district, reinforcing his real estate footprint in the French capital.
A record-setting transaction
As Nice-Matin reports, Èze’s mayor Stéphane Cherki has confirmed the sale — placing Cap Estel firmly in the hands of on of the world’s richest people. Industry observers see the deal as not only the most extravagant on the Riviera in recent memory, but also a reflection of the scarcity and desirability of such discreet ultra-luxury assets.
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