One of the most renowned figures in Hollywood cinema, actress Salma Hayek, 59, shares her life with French businessman François-Henri Pinault, 63. He is the heir to a vast family estate, consolidating his position among billionaires.
François-Henri is a direct descendant of François Pinault, a prominent figure on the French business scene, whose family holds assets estimated at US$26.3 billion, equivalent to approximately R$130 billion. This impressive wealth was based on Kering, a luxury conglomerate founded by the patriarch in 1963, initially as a building materials company. Over the years, the empire has expanded to encompass a diverse portfolio of prestigious luxury brands such as Gucci, auction houses and talent agencies, defining the group’s global reach.
In his own career, François-Henri accumulates a personal fortune estimated at US$7 billion, which corresponds to around R$34 billion. His private life is marked by a stable and lasting 18-year union with acclaimed actress Salma Hayek.
The course of the relationship between Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault
The connection between Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault began in 2006. According to reports in Harper’s Bazaar magazine, the meeting took place during a gala in Italy, and the relationship began shortly after the event.
In a statement to Marie Claire magazine, the actress expressed the depth of her affection: “It became the most significant event in my life, both privately and professionally. I was in a moment of reflection on the possibility of having a child independently, accepting the idea that romantic love might not materialize. It was then that someone unexpected appeared, completely different from my previous plans. Even without being in search, I was receptive and available. I consider myself the luckiest person there is.”
The couple’s relationship progressed significantly in March 2007. On that occasion, they both announced their engagement and the expectation of the arrival of their first daughter, Valentina, who came into the world in September of the same year.
The union became official on February 14, 2009. The ceremony, which took the bride by surprise, was held at a registry office, coinciding with Valentine’s Day in the Northern Hemisphere. As revealed by Salma Hayek to Glamor magazine in 2023, she recalls: “I had no knowledge that I was getting married that day. It felt like an intervention. I was taken to the registry office, while my parents and brother exerted pressure, given my aversion to weddings. The reason for the civil celebration was simply because they took me there.”
Years later, in 2018, the couple chose to reaffirm their marriage vows during a family vacation.
Rebutting speculation about the union for financial interest
Recently, the actress categorically refuted suggestions that her marriage was motivated by financial gain. In her appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, she stated: “When I got married, people said, ‘Oh, it was an arranged marriage, she got married for money.’ My reaction was, ‘Yeah, whatever, bitch. Think what you want.’ After fifteen years together, our love remains unwavering. I don’t feel offended, I just think, ‘Yeah, whatever.’ The truth is that photographs cannot convey the magic he possesses. He pushed me to be a much better person and to evolve in an extremely positive and healthy way.”
The role of the Pinault family in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame
In April 2019, businessman François-Henri Pinault, known as the billionaire husband of actress Salma Hayek, announced that his family would make a significant donation to the restoration of the historic Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, France. The announcement came after the devastating fire that devastated the monument.
The businessman revealed that he had allocated a significant amount to the restructuring of the iconic location. His personal contribution, representing a notable and immediate gesture of philanthropy, totaled approximately R$439 million.
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, François Pinault, François-Henri’s father, stated: “My father and I decided to release resources from our funds from Artemis, our family’s holding company, to assist in the commitment required for the complete reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral.”