economie

How billionaires like Bill Gates and Anant Ambani are enjoying the 2024 Olympics

August 2, 20240
Bernard Arnault at a pre-Olympics event.

Thibault Camus/AP

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault has been an important player in the 2024 Olympics. His company spent a reported $160 million to sponsor the games, and branded products — like a Louis Vuitton trunk carrying the Olympic torch and Berulti suits on Team France — have been seen throughout the Games.

Bill Gates
LeBron James was the flagbearer for Team USA.

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

One billionaire wasn’t participating in the Olympics as a spectator: LeBron James. The basketball legend served as one of Team USA’s flagbearers during the Opening Ceremonies before taking to the court on Sunday.

Elon Musk

Not only was Elon Musk spotted in Paris for the Games, he also enjoyed lunch with fellow billionaire Bernard Arnault and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, Arnault told CNBC.

The Tesla CEO was critical of the Opening Ceremonies, calling a part that was reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” “extremely disrespectful to Christians” on X. (A spokesperson for the Olympics has since apologized.)

The lasers, on the other hand, “were great,” he said.

Brian Roberts
Steven Spielberg at a pre-Olympics gathering.

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

Billionaire director Steven Spielberg welcomed viewers to the Paris Opening Ceremonies broadcast, likening the games to movie magic.

Anant Ambani
Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani at the India house at the Paris Olympics.

Olympia De Maismont/Getty Images

Fresh off their lavish wedding, Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani were in Paris for the Olympics, where they visited Team India’s house. Ambani’s mom, Nita Ambani, has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2016.