France’s richest man sues Liberation over ‘Get lost, you rich idiot!’ headline
A left-leaning French newspaper, liberation, is being sued for libel by the country’s richest man after publishing a front page headline critical of his decision to seek Belgian citizenship.
Opting for the succinct ‘Get lost, you rich idiot’, to express their displeasure at Bernard Arnault’s lack of patriotism the paper is now facing legal action from the industrialists lawyers.
Arnault’s decision to spend more time in Belgium coincides with the French government’s decision to impose a 75% rate of tax on its super rich, timing which Arnault insists is coincidental promising to fulfil his tax obligations.
In a statement Arnault said: “Bernard Arnault has no other choice, given the extreme vulgarity and the violence of the headline... but to sue Liberation.”
Liberation’s choice of words were intended to evoke memories of Nicolas Sarkozy’s alleged remark to a voter who refused to shake his hand, prompting him to mutter ‘Get lost, you poor idiot.’
Arnault is the world’s fourth richest man with a personal fortune estimated at $41bn.