Born in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France, he is the son of the late Jean-François Revel (born Jean-François Ricard), a renowned French philosopher.
Lahir di Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, Prancis, Ricard merupakan putra dari almarhum Jean-François Revel (terlahir Jean-François Ricard), seorang filsuf Prancis yang terkenal.