Dorothée Lepère is a French interior designer and the former wife of businessman François-Henri Pinault. They were married from 1996 to 2004 and have two children, François and Mathilde Pinault. Her name connects two very different worlds: interior design and a family whose businesses span luxury fashion and fine art. Yet one of the most revealing accounts of her role comes from her daughter’s riding career. Mathilde has described how her mother introduced her to horses and insisted that school remained a priority—a personal detail that brings Lepère’s story beyond a simple family connection.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dorothée Lepère |
| Nationality | French |
| Profession | Interior designer |
| Former husband | François-Henri Pinault |
| Marriage | 1996–2004 |
| Children | François Pinault and Mathilde Pinault |
Her Work in Interior Design
Both People and Madame Figaro identify Lepère with interior design. The French publication describes her as an architecte d’intérieur, a term commonly translated as interior designer or interior architect.
Marriage to François-Henri Pinault
Lepère married François-Henri Pinault in 1996. Their marriage lasted eight years and ended in divorce in 2004. François is their older child, followed by Mathilde.
Their marriage took place during an important stage in Pinault’s business career. He became deputy chief executive of PPR in 2000, with responsibility for its digital strategy, and chairman of Artémis in 2003. Artémis is the Pinault family’s investment company and a core shareholder in Kering.
Pinault’s appointment as chairman and chief executive of the group now known as Kering came in 2005, after the marriage had ended. This sequence helps place Lepère’s marriage in the family’s business history without assigning her a corporate position.
Her Children and Their Different Paths
François Pinault: A Role at Christie’s
Lepère’s son François shares his first name and surname with his grandfather, the businessman and art collector François Pinault. His father is François-Henri Pinault. Keeping these three generations distinct makes accounts of the family easier to follow.
The younger François appears in British corporate records under the name François Louis Nicolas Pinault. Companies House records his appointment as a director of Christie’s International PLC on March 26, 2024. His grandfather left the board on the same date.
The appointment connects Lepère’s son to the fine-art auction business, adding another branch to a family story often associated mainly with fashion.
Mathilde Pinault: Show Jumping and Fashion
Mathilde has developed a profile in equestrian sport as well as fashion. The Fédération Équestre Internationale lists her as a jumping athlete competing for France.
Her sporting record includes a place on France’s winning junior team at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth event in Fontainebleau in 2020. The team completed its two rounds with seven penalties, finishing ahead of France’s second team and Switzerland.
Mathilde has also attended fashion events and film premieres. In November 2021, she joined her father and stepmother, Salma Hayek, at the London premiere of House of Gucci. These appearances form one part of her activities alongside competitive riding.
How Lepère Helped Shape Mathilde’s Riding
A June 2019 Studforlife interview describes Lepère’s involvement in her daughter’s childhood. Mathilde said her mother introduced her to riding with Shetland ponies at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
She first enjoyed pony games at a small riding club. Her interest in show jumping developed later, around the age of 12, when she began competing.
Lepère made continued riding conditional on doing well at school. Mathilde agreed, explaining that communication skills and business knowledge could matter in the equestrian world.
Her account describes encouragement to balance sporting ambition with education.
Where Salma Hayek Fits into the Family
François-Henri Pinault married Salma Hayek in 2009. Through that marriage, Hayek became stepmother to François and Mathilde.
Pinault also has a son, Augustin James, with model Linda Evangelista, and a daughter, Valentina Paloma, with Hayek. Augustin and Valentina are therefore paternal half-siblings of Lepère’s children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dorothée Lepère?
Dorothée Lepère is a French interior designer, François-Henri Pinault’s former wife, and the mother of François and Mathilde Pinault.
How long was she married to François-Henri Pinault?
Their marriage lasted from 1996 until their divorce in 2004.
What does Dorothée Lepère do professionally?
People identifies her as an interior designer, while Madame Figaro uses the French term architecte d’intérieur.
Did Dorothée Lepère introduce Mathilde to horse riding?
Yes. Mathilde described her mother introducing her to riding as a young child, starting with Shetland ponies in Paris.
Is Salma Hayek the mother of Lepère’s children?
Hayek is their stepmother. Dorothée Lepère is the mother of François and Mathilde.
Conclusion
Dorothée Lepère’s biography brings together interior design, an eight-year marriage to François-Henri Pinault, and motherhood. Her daughter’s account of discovering horses adds a more personal dimension: a mother who encouraged a sporting interest while keeping education firmly in view.
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