A descendant of Europe’s richest family has reportedly begun a process to adopt his middle-aged former gardener, planning to leave him at least half of his roughly €12 billion ($13 billion) fortune. Nicolas Puech, 80, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder of French luxury goods company Hermes, wants to cancel a contract that would bequeath his fortune to the Isocrates Foundation, which he founded, and instead make his employee a legal heir. Swiss newspapers Tribune de Geneve and 24 heures reported the news earlier this month, describing the potential heir as Puech’s “servant, former gardener and handyman.” (full story)