The opening shot of The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend lingers on Liliane Bettencourt’s opulent Parisian mansion—a fortress of wealth that becomes the epicenter of a scandal so lurid it feels like a French farce directed by Luis Buñuel. This four-part docuseries, streaming now, digs into the messy family feud between France’s richest woman and her daughter, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, which spiraled into a national obsession. The series is a riveting exploration of power, betrayal, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their legacy, but it’s also a reminder that even the most glittering facades can hide rot.

At its core, this is a story about greed, manipulation, and the erosion of trust within one of Europe’s wealthiest families. The series leans heavily on archive footage of Liliane Bettencourt, her daughter, François-Marie Banier (the controversial boyfriend at the center of the scandal), and even former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose involvement adds an extra layer of intrigue. The documentary’s strength lies in its ability to weave together personal drama with broader themes of corruption and influence.

The series begins by establishing Liliane Bettencourt as a figure of almost mythic proportions—a woman who inherited the L’Oréal fortune and became not just France’s richest individual but a symbol of capitalist success. Her relationship with François-Marie Banier, a photographer and artist 20 years her junior, is presented as both romantic and transactional. The archive footage of Bettencourt is particularly compelling; she comes across as fragile yet fiercely independent, a woman who seems to understand the dangers of her situation but is unable—or unwilling—to extricate herself from it.

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, Liliane’s daughter, emerges as the moral center of the story. Her concerns about her mother’s relationship with Banier and his alleged influence over her are framed as those of a protective child worried about exploitation. The series does an excellent job of presenting both sides of the conflict without taking a definitive stance, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions.

The inclusion of Nicolas Sarkozy is one of the series’ most compelling elements. His political career becomes entangled in the scandal when it’s revealed that he allegedly received campaign funding from Bettencourt through Banier. This elevation of the story from a mere family squabble to something resembling a national tragedy is where the documentary truly shines.

The performances, if they can be called that, are limited to archival footage and interviews. Bettencourt’s vulnerability and defiance shine through, making her more than just a billionaire but a deeply flawed human being caught in a web of manipulation. Banier, the art-loving boyfriend who allegedly swindled millions from Bettencourt, is portrayed as both charming and predatory, a man who knew exactly how to exploit trust.

Where the series falters is in its pacing. At times, it feels like a laundry list of legal battles and financial transactions, losing some of the narrative tension that makes scandal so compelling. The documentary could have benefited from more creative storytelling techniques—perhaps reenactments or animated sequences—to break up the monotony of talking heads.

The originality is middling. While the subject matter is undeniably fascinating, the execution doesn’t push the boundaries of the docuseries format. It’s well-researched and meticulously assembled, but it lacks the boldness that could have turned this into a standout series.

As for genre fit, The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend is a textbook example of a true-crime documentary. It checks all the boxes: wealth, power, betrayal, and legal drama. However, it doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the table in terms of style or approach.

The series is likely to appeal most to fans of high-society scandals and those with an interest in French politics. It’s a story that feels uniquely French in its blend of glamour, intrigue, and legal maneuvering. However, viewers looking for a more innovative take on the documentary format may find it somewhat lacking.

In terms of craft, the series is competently directed but lacks the visual flair or narrative ambition that could have elevated it to something truly special.

Tags: François-Marie Banier, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, Liliane Bettencourt, The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend

The Billionaire, The Butler And The Boyfriend: A Scandal That Exposes Wealth’s Dark Underbelly

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