Louis Vuitton

Born in Anchay, France, Louis Vuitton was just 13 when he left home for Paris, apprenticing with a trunk maker. His skill and innovative designs, like flat-topped trunks that could be stacked (a revelation in the mid-19th century!), quickly caught the eye of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Clearly, even royalty appreciated a good stackable storage solution.

His eponymous company, founded in 1854, became synonymous with luxury travel goods. While the man himself may have passed on in 1892, his name lives on, now adorning everything from ridiculously expensive handbags to entire fashion collections. One could argue he had a knack for making things last.

While Monsieur Vuitton had no known connection to Jewish identity or origin, his enduring legacy of quality craftsmanship and timeless design has certainly brought a certain amount of kvelling to many a fashionista (and their bankers). His commitment to preventing counterfeiting, however, might make him a less popular figure among those who appreciate a good knock-off.