Bill Gates drove a Porsche, and Steve Jobs a Mercedes AMG, but across the Atlantic, LVMH’s Bernard Arnault drove a car so humble that he was denied entry to his own office by a security guard who refused to believe that the billionaire would drive a $12,000 hatchback.

Last month, we brought you the story of Bernard Arnault’s 1990 Peugeot 205 GTI, which is currently on sale with an asking price of 59,990 euros (~$66,000). The chairman and CEO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), the world’s largest luxury goods company, used the hot hatch as his daily driver in the 1990s to avoid attracting too much attention.

Bernard Arnault’s Peugeot 205 GTI

Since a billionaire’s life is always at risk, Arnault wanted an unassuming vehicle that he could use regularly without being noticed. The Peugeot 205 GTI with a black exterior was perfect for the job. After all, when Bill Gates drove a Porsche and Steve Jobs cruised in a Mercedes AMG, who would ever think that a billionaire dominating the world luxury market would choose a $12,000 hatchback? However, traveling inconspicuously once became the reason for a bizarre incident involving the French billionaire. He was stopped from entering his own office!

A Louis Vuitton factory in Italy. Image – Facebook / VEDERE International
According to Motorionline, Bernard Arnault was denied entry to one of his offices by a security guard who refused to acknowledge his identity. The incident is believed to have occurred on a weekend, and the guard on duty had never seen his boss before. Noticing him arriving in a regular hatchback, the security guard did not believe he was Bernard Arnault and initially refused entry to the office, which is quite understandable.

Bernard Arnault at one of Louis Vuitton’s factory.
After all, anyone in that guard’s place would expect a billionaire who owns some of the most prominent fashion brands to arrive in an ultra-expensive luxury limo with an entourage of executives. Furthermore, Arnault is one of those billionaires who like to keep a low profile, making it difficult to recognize him.

One of Louis Vuitton’s workshop in Paris. Image – Louis Vuitton
There’s no information on when and where this incident happened. Considering that it involves the Peugeot 205 GTI, it might have occurred in the 1990s. Back then, the companies owned by Arnault had dozens of offices and workshops all across Europe. Currently, the French billionaire oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Bvlgari and Sephora. With an estimated net worth of around $170 billion, he’s currently the 5th richest person on the planet.