The Rupert family owns the Swiss luxury group Richemont, founded in 1988 by South African businessman Anton Rupert.
Anton Rupert built the Rembrandt Group, whose interests included tobacco, financial services, and luxury goods. In 1988, the luxury assets were separated into Compagnie Financière Richemont. The group later assembled a portfolio of prestigious brands, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, and Piaget.
The Rupert family’s influence comes through its holding company, Compagnie Financière Rupert. Richemont is publicly listed, so it is not the same as a wholly private family firm. The company is also distinct from Swatch Group, another Swiss watch and luxury business, and from LVMH, the French group controlled by the Arnault family.