Hermès Tycoon Sparks Controversy with Plan to Leave Fortune to Gardener

The charitable foundation of Hermès heir Nicolas Peuch is contesting his decision to leave a significant portion of his $13.2 billion fortune to his gardener, whom he reportedly plans to adopt. Peuch's Isocrates Foundation, which was set to inherit his shares in Hermès, argues that the cancellation of their inheritance contract is unfounded. The gardener stands to inherit properties worth $5.9 million, while Peuch's foundation, which funds public-interest journalism, is seeking to distance itself from the situation. Peuch's unconventional plan faces legal challenges due to the rarity of adult adoptions in Switzerland.