L’Oreal family at war over $2.3bn ‘gift’ to friend

ONE of the world’s richest women appears to have taken L’Oreal’s most famous slogan “because you’re worth it” a step too far and caused a huge financial rift with her daughter.

With a personal fortune estimated by Forbes at $34 billion (€25bn), heiress to the cosmetics and beauty giant L’Oreal Liliane Bettencourt, 86, has given $2.3bn to a photographer friend.

Francois-Marie Banier, 61, a jet-set photographer, painter and writer, who is a friend to the stars, was the recipient of the money.