Few logos in the world carry the weight of the YSL monogram. Those three interlocking letters — designed in 1963 by graphic master A.M. Cassandre — have appeared on runways, red carpets, handbags, and beauty counters for over six decades. But who actually owns Yves Saint Laurent today? The answer involves a French billionaire dynasty, a $1 billion acquisition, and one of the most important splits in luxury brand history — because the fashion house and the beauty line are owned by two completely different companies.
Here is the complete, verified story.
What Is YSL?
Yves Saint Laurent SAS is a luxury fashion house headquartered at 37 Rue de Bellechasse, Paris, France. Founded in 1961, it operates 282 stores worldwide as of 2026 and generated revenue of €2.9 billion in 2024. Its current CEO is Cédric Charbit and its Creative Director is Anthony Vaccarello.
The brand is officially known simply as Saint Laurent in fashion circles today — the “Yves” was dropped from the main fashion branding in 2012 — but YSL remains the universal shorthand that everyone uses.
Who Owns YSL Right Now in 2026?
The luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is currently owned by Kering, a global luxury group headquartered in Paris. While Kering owns the fashion side of YSL, the cosmetics line — YSL Beauty — belongs to L’Oréal. This split ownership allows both companies to focus on their strengths.
That split is the single most important thing to understand about YSL ownership. If you buy a Saint Laurent leather jacket or handbag, the money flows to Kering. If you buy a YSL lipstick or perfume, the money flows to L’Oréal. Same logo, same name — two completely different corporate owners.
YSL Ownership and Key Stakeholders Table
| Owner / Party | Role | Stake | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kering S.A. | Parent Company — Fashion | 100% of Saint Laurent fashion house | Listed on Euronext Paris (KER); owns Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta |
| Groupe Artémis (Pinault Family) | Controlling Shareholder of Kering | ~42.34% equity, ~59.8% voting rights | Family holding company of François Pinault; controls Kering’s direction |
| François-Henri Pinault | Chairman of Kering | Part of Artémis stake | Son of founder François Pinault; Kering Chairman since June 2025 |
| Luca de Meo | CEO of Kering | Management role | Appointed CEO of Kering in June 2025; former Renault CEO |
| Cédric Charbit | CEO of Saint Laurent | Management role | Leads Saint Laurent brand since 2024 |
| Anthony Vaccarello | Creative Director of Saint Laurent | Creative role | Has led Saint Laurent’s design direction since 2016 |
| Institutional Investors | Public Shareholders of Kering | ~52.6% of Kering shares | Includes Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street and others |
| L’Oréal | Owner of YSL Beauty | 100% of YSL Beauté | Acquired YSL Beauty for €1.15 billion in 2008 |
The Origin Story: A Young Man and a Fashion Revolution
Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent was born in 1936 in Oran, Algeria. He moved to Paris as a teenager, caught the eye of legendary designer Christian Dior, and became the head designer of the House of Dior at just 21 years old — one of the youngest creative directors in fashion history.
The brand was established in 1962 by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. The brand’s logos were designed in 1963 by A.M. Cassandre. During the 1960s and 1970s, YSL popularized the beatnik look, safari jackets, tight pants, and thigh-high boots. In 1966, YSL debuted Le Smoking — a tuxedo suit for women.
Le Smoking was genuinely revolutionary. No major fashion house had ever put women in a tuxedo before. Saint Laurent did not just design clothes — he rewrote what women were allowed to wear. That spirit of rebellion and elegance became the DNA of everything YSL has done since.
How Ownership Changed: From Sanofi to Kering
YSL was not always owned by a luxury conglomerate. For its first three decades, it was a fiercely independent house run by its founders. Then came the corporate era.
Initially, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé kept ownership. But things changed in 1993 when they sold Groupe YSL to Elf-Sanofi — a pharmaceutical company. While Yves Saint Laurent Perfumes got a new corporate owner, the Couture line stayed with Bergé and Laurent, keeping their hands on the creative pulse.
Imagine the world’s most glamorous fashion house being owned by the same company making your prescription medicine. It was an unusual marriage that did not last long.
By 1999, the “Gucci Group” (which later became Kering) swooped in and bought the brand for about $1 billion. That acquisition marked the beginning of the modern YSL era — and it put the brand inside what would become one of the two most powerful luxury groups in the world.
Who Is Kering? The Company That Controls YSL’s Fashion Empire
Kering S.A. is publicly traded on Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol KER. The company is controlled by the Pinault family through Artémis S.A., a holding company that owns approximately 41–42% of Kering’s shares and has over 56–59% of the voting rights.
Kering was founded in 1962 by François Pinault as a timber business in Brittany, France. Over decades it transformed from a diversified retailer into a luxury specialist. Its portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and Brioni, among others.
A major leadership shift happened in 2025. A key development in June 2025 was the appointment of Luca de Meo as the new CEO, with François-Henri Pinault transitioning to the role of Chairman. De Meo, formerly the CEO of Renault, brings a fresh operational perspective to a company navigating a challenging luxury market.
The Pinault family’s wealth is estimated at approximately $22 billion, derived substantially from their Kering holdings. Beyond luxury fashion, the family also owns Christie’s auction house, Château Latour winery, and a controlling stake in Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
YSL Beauty: A Completely Different Owner
This is the detail that surprises most people. While Kering owns the Saint Laurent fashion house completely, the beauty and cosmetics business operates under an entirely separate company.
YSL Beauty is owned by L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics group. L’Oréal acquired Yves Saint Laurent Beauté for €1.15 billion in 2008. The deal was approved by the European Commission. YSL Beauty operates as part of L’Oréal’s luxury division, in the same corporate family as Lancôme.
So when you spray on Black Opium perfume or swipe on Rouge Pur Couture lipstick, you are supporting L’Oréal — not Kering. The two companies share the YSL brand name under a licensing arrangement, but the ownership and profits are entirely separate.
Saint Laurent in 2026: The Creative Vision
Under Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello — who has led the brand since 2016 — Saint Laurent has built a powerful aesthetic identity around black, rock-and-roll glamour, sky-high stilettos, and sharp tailoring. Vaccarello brings a fresh, contemporary attitude while respecting the brand’s rich heritage. Strategic collaborations with contemporary artists and celebrities like Rosé from BLACKPINK keep the brand culturally relevant and connected to younger luxury consumers.
With 282 stores worldwide, €2.9 billion in revenue, and a growing presence in Asian markets, Saint Laurent remains one of Kering’s most commercially important brands — second only to the much larger Gucci within the group’s portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns YSL in 2026?
YSL (Saint Laurent fashion) is owned by Kering, the French luxury group controlled by the Pinault family through their holding company Groupe Artémis.
Q2. Who owns YSL Beauty?
YSL Beauty is owned by L’Oréal, the world’s largest cosmetics company, which acquired it for €1.15 billion in 2008.
Q3. Who founded Yves Saint Laurent?
Yves Saint Laurent was founded in 1961 by designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé in Paris, France.
Q4. When did Kering acquire YSL?
Kering (then called the Gucci Group) acquired Yves Saint Laurent in 1999 for approximately $1 billion.
Q5. Who is the current CEO of Saint Laurent?
Cédric Charbit serves as CEO of Saint Laurent and Anthony Vaccarello serves as Creative Director, a role he has held since 2016.
Q6. Who controls Kering’s ownership?
The Pinault family, through Groupe Artémis, controls Kering with approximately 42.34% of shares and 59.8% of voting rights as of 2024.
Q7. Is YSL and Saint Laurent the same brand? Yes. “Saint Laurent” is the official current name of the fashion house. “YSL” and “Yves Saint Laurent” are the same brand — “Yves” was dropped from the fashion branding in 2012 but remains widely used.
Q8. Who was Yves Saint Laurent the person?
Yves Saint Laurent (1936–2008) was an Algerian-French fashion designer who became head of Christian Dior at age 21 before founding his own house. He is credited with revolutionizing women’s fashion, including introducing Le Smoking tuxedo suit for women in 1966.
YSL — officially Yves Saint Laurent — is owned on the fashion side by Kering S.A., the French luxury conglomerate controlled by the Pinault family through Groupe Artémis, which holds approximately 42.34% of Kering’s shares and 59.8% of all voting rights. Kering acquired YSL in 1999 for approximately $1 billion after a brief and unusual period of ownership by pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
The beauty business — YSL Beauty — is an entirely separate story, owned by L’Oréal, which bought it for €1.15 billion in 2008. Under CEO Cédric Charbit and Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello, the fashion house generates €2.9 billion in annual revenue and operates 282 stores worldwide — one of the most commercially powerful luxury brands on the planet.