In an interview with Nicolas Demorand and Léa Salamé on France Inter, Xavier Niel does not hesitate to summarize his journey, without convolution or round of leg. “I went to prison, I stopped my studies at 18, I did a lot of stupid things, stupid things“, he begins, affirming that nevertheless, “we can do things” despite all this. After his show at the Olympia “How to become a billionaire?” and his piano sequence at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic games in Paris, we feel that the man wants to inspire and make an impression, at the same time beyond his entrepreneurial success.
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“We are in a country where we often have the impression that inheritance is the best way to succeed. It is an effective means, but it is not a means that we choose. What I want is “is this fucking social elevator working”he says. Remember that the man has been with Delphine Arnault, the daughter of Barnard Arnault (LVMH) for many years and therefore knows the worlds linked to the inheritance of great fortunes.
guillement“Elon Musk has locked himself into a transgressive extremist persona”
But it’s true that Xavier Niel, unlike many French billionaires, has rather built himself up.all alone“, and has “gluttonous” aspects, as he was portrayed in a portrait in La Libre, when he had just acquired shares in the Belgian telecoms operator Proximus.
At the end of the interview, Xavier Niel gives his opinion on another entrepreneur who is literally making a mess, Elon Musk, on whom La Libre Eco devoted a special report as part of the takeover of Twitter (now X).
– > Rediscover: Pink Minitel, (small) prison box and 2 euro packages: Xavier Niel, the French billionaire who enters Proximus
Brilliant but problematic
“Elon Musk only represents himself and it’s a full-time job […]. He locked himself into a character of transgressive extremist”he explains, adding that he “risks paying for this by going too far.” Xavier Niel also asserts with a bit of humor that he draws his prudence from the fact of having, among other things, rubbed shoulders with Judge Van Ruymbeke, a famous French judge who had… sent him to prison.
“You cause violence, reactions… But by pushing the envelope you get feedback. […] It’s crazy to see someone who can be such a brilliant entrepreneur and say so much crap on the side. But that’s the game, that’s the character he created.” he finishes.
Rediscover our special Musk/X file:
