Brigitte Macron, born Brigitte Marie-Claude Trogneux on April 13, 1953, in Amiens, France, is a former high school teacher and the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.
As the French First Lady, she has attracted significant public attention, not only for her role in supporting her husband’s political career but also for their unconventional relationship, marked by a 25-year age difference.
Brigitte grew up in a prominent family known for their chocolaterie business, Trogneux, established in 1872 in Amiens.
Her life has been shaped by her family’s legacy, her career in education, and her active involvement in her husband’s political journey.
Siblings
Brigitte is the youngest of six children born to Jean Trogneux (1909–1994) and Simone Pujol (1910–1998), who owned the renowned Chocolaterie Trogneux, now known as Jean Trogneux and managed by her nephew, Jean-Alexandre Trogneux.
Her siblings include Annie, Maryvonne, Monique, Jean-Claude, and Jean-Michel Trogneux.
Tragically, Maryvonne passed away in 1960, and Jean-Claude died in 2018. Jean-Michel, often mentioned in connection with the family business, resides in Amiens and has been linked to the chocolaterie’s operations.
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The Trogneux family is deeply rooted in Amiens, with their chocolate-making legacy, particularly their famous macarons d’Amiens, remaining a regional hallmark.
In recent years, unfounded conspiracy theories have targeted Brigitte, falsely claiming she is her brother Jean-Michel, leading to legal action in 2024, where two women were convicted of slander for spreading these rumors, with damages awarded to both Brigitte and Jean-Michel.
Career
Brigitte’s professional life centered on education before she transitioned into her role as France’s First Lady.
After earning a Master of Arts degree and a secondary school teaching qualification in French language and literature, she began her career teaching in Paris.
She later taught at Collège Lucie Berger in Strasbourg before returning to her hometown of Amiens in 1991, where she taught French and Latin at Lycée La Providence, a Jesuit high school.
It was at La Providence that she met Emmanuel Macron, then a 15-year-old student, during a theater workshop she led.
Brigitte also ran the school’s drama club, where she nurtured Emmanuel’s talents, marking the beginning of their controversial relationship.
In 2007, she moved to Paris to teach at Lycée Saint-Louis de Gonzague, continuing her career until 2015, when she retired to support her husband’s political ambitions.
Since Emmanuel’s election in 2017, Brigitte has taken on a public role, focusing on initiatives like the LIVE (Institute of Vocations for Employment) project, which supports young adults over 25 who are unemployed or not in training.
She also chairs the Hospitals of Paris-Hospitals of France Foundation, working to improve conditions for patients and healthcare workers.
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