Hubert Pellegrini

Hubert Pellegrini is a major character in the French thriller series Lupin. He is portrayed by Hervé Pierre.

Hubert is a powerful businessman and one of the richest men in France. When a diamond necklace, originally belonging to Marie-Antoinette, was stolen from his safe, he immediately blamed his chauffeur Babakar Diop, who was arrested committed suicide  in prison. As a result, Babakar's son Assane has always carried a grudge against the Pellegrini family.

1990s
Hubert hires Babakar Diop, a Senegalese immigrant with a teenaged son named Assane, as his new chauffeur. Unbeknownst to Babakar, Hubert intends to frame him for the theft of a diamond necklace that had once belonged to Marie-Antoinette in order to collect the insurance payout.

After employing him, Hubert generally treats Babakar poorly, snapping at him in public and insulting him in private. To apologize for his behavior, his wife Anne allows Babakar to choose a book from their library to give to Assane for his birthday. Babakar chooses a collection of stories about the famed gentleman thief Arsène Lupin.

When the necklace goes missing from Hubert's safe, he orders Babakar to be brought in and questioned. Although Babakar's fingerprints are found on the safe, he strenuously denies responsibility for the crime and begs Anne for help; however, she does nothing, and Gabriel Dumont, the detective in charge of the case, allows Babakar to be taken to the police station.



Afterwards, Hubert and Dumont discuss the situation regarding the necklace. Dumont tells Hubert that Babakar is continuing to claim innocence, and that if the necklace is not found, he will be released. Dumont also notes that Hubert had the insurance policy on the necklace increased shortly before it was stolen; Hubert claims that he had been told that is was undervalued.

More time passes, and Dumont asserts to Hubert that Babakar is almost certainly innocent, suggesting that the fingerprints on the safe had been planted to incriminate him. Hubert, sensing that he is being accused of insurance fraud, tells Dumont that he has the police department in his pocket, and that he is in possession of powerful connections. Dumont responds that he intends to see the investigation through to its conclusion, no matter the outcome. However, after Hubert makes vague threats against Dumont's wife, he is able to convince the detective to get Anne talk Babakar into signing a confession to the crime. Hubert promises Dumont a promotion for his efforts.

After Assane is transferred to the College d’Andrésy, he sees Hubert's daughter Juliette on occasion. Upon discovering this, Hubert bans Juliette from meeting with Assane, telling her that people like him are below the Pellegrini family.

The following year, Hubert sells arms and explosives to a group of Malaysian terrorists, who go on to blow up the French embassy in Kuala Lumpur, killing eleven people. In 1996, a journalist named Fabienne Bériot publishes a book entitled Dirty Money: The Pellegrini System, in attempt to expose Hubert's corruption. However, Hubert and his lawyers challenge Fabienne with a record-breaking defamation lawsuit. Upon winning the suit, Hubert uses his influence to make sure that Fabienne will never work as a journalist again.

Part 1
Hubert continues to manage his business empire, and maintains a strong relationship with Juliette, though he is now estranged from Anne. After her conversation with Assane in Luxembourg Gardens, Juliette asks her father if Babakar was really the person who had stolen their necklace twenty-five years earlier. Hubert is surprised and angered to be questioned by his daughter, telling her that she has hurt his feelings. He asks Juliette if she stands with him or not; she tells him that she does.



Some time later, a drone, piloted by Assane, enters Hubert's home while he is sleeping. It manages to get past his security system and examines some of Hubert's files; however, upon attempting to leave, it triggers the alarms, and Hubert is escorted by his security detail into a safe bunker. Hubert's guards manage to retrieve the drone, which has a note attached to it reading "I'll have you."

One day, while they are in a meeting, Hubert and Juliette learn that a twitter account with the handle @Salvator813 is threatening to release footage of Hubert selling arms to the Malaysian terrorists. Hubert tells Juliette, who is worried about the possible effects of the controversy on the launch of her new foundation, that the video is a fake. To assuage her concerns, Hubert gives a press conference in front of his house, affirming his patriotism as a Frenchman, asserting his credentials as a successful businessman, and challenging "Salvator" to show himself and prove his accusations. As Hubert is about to go inside, Fabienne, standing amongst the press covering the event, loudly asks him if he feels responsible for the Kuala Lumpur attack. Visibly enraged, Hubert tells the reporters that he will not be taking any more questions.



Hubert learns that "Salvator" intends to appear on a lowbrow talk show called The Other Edition, and, unbeknownst to Assane, he is present on set during the taping. When the footage of his dealings with the Malaysians is played, it becomes clear that Hubert has managed to have it doctored, eliminating all of the incriminating evidence. The heavily-disguised Assane leaves the studio in a rage, and Hubert orders him to be tracked down. Juliette, who has been watching the broadcast, calls her father and tells him that she thinks that "Salvator" is actually Assane Diop. Hubert instructs his associate, Léonard, to find Assane. Leonard's search leads to his murdering Fabienne and chasing Assane across the streets of Paris. When Léonard catches Assane with his family on the train to Le Havre, Hubert tells him to leave Claire and Raoul alone, but to kill Assane.

Part 2
On the afternoon of December 11th, Hubert receives another phone call from Léonard, who tells him that while he was unable to catch Assane, he has kidnapped Raoul. Hubert is horrified and angry, and tells Léonard to fix his mistake. A third call from Léonard, during the night, informs Hubert that Raoul is being driven away from captivity by Youssef Guédira. Hubert is relieved to hear this, and later explains to Dumont that since Guédira is subject to the commissioner's orders, they can have Raoul brought to them and use him as bait for Assane. Dumont is initially apprehensive, pointing out that they are acting outside any kind of established procedure, but eventually agrees to go along with Hubert’s plan.

Later that morning, Hubert and Juliette make a promotional video for their foundation with the presenter of The Other Edition, in which Hubert condemns the actions of “Salvator.” As they are wrapping up, Hubert is told that his next appointment is waiting for him. Hubert is initially confused, stating that he is not aware of any appointment. Pascal Oblet quietly informs Hubert that the visitor is Claire, who is searching for Raoul. Hubert is intrigued, realizing that he can use both the boy and his mother as pawns in his plot to catch Assane.

After the two have sat down together, Claire informs Hubert that she is not intimidated by him, since taking her son was the worst thing he could have done to her. Hubert is merely amused by the vehemence of her statements. Claire tells Hubert that since she wants her child, and Hubert wants his necklace, she will give him the remaining diamonds (which had been in Benjamin’s possession) in exchange for Raoul. Sensing that Claire is desperate, Hubert smiles and tells her that he doesn’t care about the necklace; instead, he wants Assane. Claire agrees to let several undercover police officers, including Pascal, be posted at her apartment building.

Hubert has Dumont order Guédira to bring Raoul to the Park Hyatt hotel, where Juliette is giving a thank-you speech for the donors to her foundation. When Hubert is finally face to face with Raoul, he tells the teenager that the foundation will benefit children like him whose parents are criminals. Raoul asserts that his parents are not criminals. Hubert asks him what his father does for a living, and when Raoul is unable to respond, Hubert tells him that Assane is a thief like his father before him, and that he does not care about Raoul or Claire. Raoul yells that this is not true. Menacingly, Hubert tells Raoul that he is right, as Assane will come to the Hyatt to get him, thus playing straight into Hubert’s plan.

After Juliette has finished her speech, Hubert sees Dumont waving to him. When he walks over to Dumont, he finds that the commissioner has grown ashen, as he has been taking commands from someone he believed to be Hubert but whom he now realizes was Assane using technology to transform his voice. Dumont admits that he let Raoul leave with Assane, but Hubert is unconcerned with the situation, informing him that he has a backup plan in his deal with Claire. However, Claire manages to alert Assane to the danger before he can be caught; as such, Assane remains out of Hubert’s reach.

Later, Hubert receives a call from Lucas Lacroix, who is in charge of his investments. Lacroix is known for his conservative decision-making and ability to choose safe and stable opportunities, but Hubert is bored with this. When Lacroix warns him that a new player named Philippe Courbet has arrived on the scene and is attempting to poach some of his clients, Hubert is immediately intrigued, and arranges to meet Courbet. Although Hubert is somewhat surprised by how young Courbet looks, he is impressed with his stated intention to take risks that, he says, will make Hubert richer.

Hubert and Courbet begin meeting regularly, with Hubert firmly accepting the young man into his inner circle. He is completely unaware that Courbet is an accomplice of Assane and Benjamin who has no experience as an investor. During one session, Hubert and Courbet discuss potential donations to the foundation, as well as Hubert’s plan to take 85% of the profits for himself, leaving only 15% for his daughter’s project. Courbet asks Hubert if Juliette is aware of this, and Hubert responds that she is not.

During another meeting with Courbet, Hubert is shocked when Laugier and Guédira arrive and arrest him under suspicion of fraud and obstruction of justice. He is brought to the interrogation room, where he is questioned by Laugier and Belkacem, while Guédira monitors the proceedings from a computer. Hubert is generally unresponsive to the investigation, failing to reveal any significant information about his history with the necklace or his dealings with Léonard. However, when he is presented with a facial reconstruction of “Paul Sernine,” Hubert is quick to tell the police that his name is actually Assane Diop. Hubert receives a call from Albert Fontan, the minister of the interior, who manages to get him released from custody.

Following his arrest, Hubert meets with Pascal and Léonard. Pascal reveals that Fabienne’s funeral was not paid for by Assane, but by Benjamin. Hubert is pleased to learn that Assane is working with an accomplice, and tells Léonard to follow Benjamin to Assane’s house in order to kill Assane. When Léonard has left, however, Hubert and Pascal plot to murder him instead and have Assane framed for it. Some time later, Hubert receives a notice from Pascal stating that he has carried out their plan successfully. He sends Dumont information on Benjamin and his shop.

On the night before Juliette’s concert at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Hubert is speaking with Philippe and Pascal when Dumont enters and tells him that he has secured the evidence in Assane’s home. He also reveals his fears that several of his officers are close to uncovering the truth, and advises caution. Hubert is unconcerned, assuring Dumont that following the concert, the two will experience a windfall.

Even so, Hubert suspects that Assane will try to infiltrate the concert, and orders his men to be on guard. When the music starts, Hubert begins to relax and enjoy the experience, particularly as he knows that the donations currently flowing in will mainly go into his pocket, but he is surprised by Assane, who breaks into his private box and holds a knife to his throat, demanding a full confession. Hubert struggles, and Assane simply holds him tighter and asks him whether he killed Fabienne.

Hubert admits that Léonard murdered Fabienne on his orders. Assane then angrily asks him about Raoul’s kidnapping. Hubert maintains that he never meant for anything to happen to Raoul, claiming that children are sacred to him. Assane asserts that Hubert’s ultimate intention was to kill him; under duress, Hubert confesses that it was, but that he framed him for Léonard’s murder instead. Assane asks Hubert who actually killed Léonard, and Hubert gives him Pascal’s name.

Assane turns the interrogation to his father. Hubert admits that he hired Babakar in order to frame him, and had Léonard murder him because he was afraid Babakar would fight his imprisonment. However, he claims that Assane will never get away with exposing him. Assane leaves, and Hubert orders his men to chase after him. Unbeknownst to Hubert, Assane has recorded the entire conversation.

Hubert is shocked when Assane storms the stage after the music has finished and publicly accuses him of the crimes to which he has just confessed. As the guests leave in a frenzy, Hubert is arrested by Guédira, who has received Assane’s recording of Hubert’s confession. He is placed into the back of a squad car and driven to the police station. Dumont, in an identical situation and an identical car, follows behind him.

Personality


Hubert is a shrewd, cold and calculating entrepreneur. He is able to foresee where situations will end up long ahead of time, and does not hesitate to use his money and connections in order to circumvent the law. Seemingly a self-made man, Hubert is devoted to his business empire, and strives to protect it from outside forces that he (often correctly) sees as trying to destroy it. To insulate himself from criticism, Hubert regularly plays up his patriotism, seen clearly during his press conference after the release of the “Salvator” tweet. This is helped by his close relationships with powerful figures in the French government as well as law enforcement and media.

Anne Pellegrini comments that with Hubert, one is either with him or against him, and when somebody is against Hubert, he works hard at making their life a misery. Although Hubert is shown to have few qualms about ordering the deaths of those who may implicate him in criminal activity (or associates whom he feels have outgrown their usefulness), he does not involve himself personally in these murders, instead employing assassins to do the deeds for him. In contrast, Hubert tends to be hands-on with regards to his work. Fabienne’s tape reveals that he personally sold arms to the Malaysian terrorists, and he continues to be enthusiastic about maintaining his affairs in the present day.

A highly manipulative person, Hubert sees other people as expendable tools to use in his plots. Murderous tendencies aside, he demonstrates a number of other significant character flaws, including virulent racism towards Assane and Babakar as well as more general classism. He does appear to draw a line at harming children, claiming that their lives are sacred to him. Even so, Hubert finds disadvantaging them in the abstract to be perfectly acceptable, as evidenced by his attempts to steal money from Juliette’s foundation.

Hubert demonstrates a significant degree of overconfidence in his own plotting and decision-making. He sees little value in playing it safe and sticking to what has worked in the past; as a result, he became bored and irritated with Lucas Lacroix, his financial advisor who emphasized stability and secure investments, instead switching him for the seemingly more daring and aggressive Philippe Courbet (unbeknownst to him, an accomplice of Assane). Hubert is willing to incorporate new opportunities into his plans should they present themselves, but at the same time dislikes when his own subordinates improvise too much. He is also quite skilled at reading others and understanding how to get what he wants from them.

Relationships
The exact nature of Hubert’s relationship with his wife, Anne, is unclear. In the present day, the two appear to be living separately. Hubert is far closer with his daughter Juliette, with whom he works on several business projects. Juliette is unaware of the severity of Hubert’s crimes, and, wishing to believe her father innocent of Assane’s accusations, sides with him fully after the Other Edition fiasco.

Hubert regularly berated Babakar prior to his sentencing, even referring to him as an “ape.” He did not sympathize with Babakar’s situation as an immigrant attempting to provide for his son, and unlike his wife, he showed little care for Assane’s well-being after Babakar’s death in prison.

Ever since the conclusion of Babakar’s case, Hubert has maintained a close watch on Dumont, with whom he appears to be in regular contact. It is implied that Hubert may have helped Dumont acquire his current role as commissioner. The full extent of Dumont’s collaboration with Hubert remains unclear.

Appearances

 * Part One


 * Chapter 1
 * Chapter 2
 * Chapter 3
 * Chapter 4
 * Chapter 5


 * Part Two


 * Chapter 6
 * Chapter 7
 * Chapter 8
 * Chapter 9
 * Chapter 10

Quotes
"All this is a game, Inspector. A game with rules...and I make them."

- Hubert convinces Dumont to help him frame Babakar

"France is a country that one can be proud of. Our economy and our culture are envied and copied. Our influence over the world remains strong. And yet, for some time now, certain people have tried to damage the image of our country, and those, like myself, who love and defend it."

- Hubert at his press conference

"He wants to destroy us. But I won’t let him."

- Hubert talks to Juliette about Assane's intentions

"One thing that I learned in business is that you always need a backup plan."

- Hubert to Dumont

"The question isn't if he'll come, but when."

- Hubert speculates on Assane's appearance at Juliette's charity concert

Etymology
Hubert is a Germanic name meaning “bright heart.” Early attested forms of the name include Hubertus and Hugubert.

The surname Pellegrini is of Italian origin and derives from “pellegrino,” meaning “pilgrim.” The Latin word from which “pellegrino” originates, “peregrinus,” referred to a foreigner. One of the main antagonists in the original Arsène Lupin stories, Josephine Balsamo, the Countess of Cagliostro, claims that Pellegrini is her birth surname.

Trivia

 * Hubert, his wife Anne and his assassin Léonard are the only characters to be portrayed by the same actors in both the 1995 flashbacks and the present timeline.
 * Hervé Pierre is one of only four actors who have appeared in every episode of the series thus far. The other three are Omar Sy, Ludivine Sagnier and Soufiane Guerrab.
 * Hubert is ranked as the 12th most popular character in the series on the online tracking platform TV Time.