Jean Vuarnet was born on 18 January 1933 in Tunis, French Protectorate of Tunisia [now Tunisia]. He was married to Édith Bonlieu. He died on 2 January 2017 in Sallanches, Haute-Savoie, France.
Gold medalist in 1960 for downhill skying, he invented the egg skying position. He was later one of the creators of Avoriaz ski station. He had a sportswear company.