• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Ikea owner richest in Europe: report

Published: 6 Mar 12 07:51 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39506/20120306/

Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad was ranked as Europe’s wealthiest man in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Monday, and the fifth richest man in the world.

“Ingvar Kamprad is not interested in money and that is clear from the way he has structured the ownership of Ikea,” said Per Heggenes, of Stichting INGKA Foundation, a foundation that owns 90 percent of Ikea shares, to news network Bloomberg.

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a new daily ranking of the world’s richest people by the financial news corporation, and keeps tabs on the top 20, a list in which Kamprad is allegedly a reluctant member.

Kamprad refused to comment on the ranking, in which Bloomberg ranks Kamprad’s fortune as $40 billion.

According to the report, Ikea earned a net profit of $4 billion last year and a gross profit of $15 billion on $34 billion in sales.

Kamprad left Sweden in 1970 in order to keep the company private, as Swedish tax laws wouldn’t allow this at the time.

Bloomberg’s new index provides updated information accounting for the latest movements in the stock market. The list provides information and a transparent analysis of how each billionaire’s fortune was calculated.

Other billionaire heavyweights in the ranking include Carlos Slim (who topped the list at $68.5 billion), Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook notoriety did not make the list, despite a fortune estimated at $21 billion.

Oliver Gee (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

19:51 March 6, 2012 by spo10
good for him! but not good for Sweden because he's not paying any tax here...
21:15 March 6, 2012 by philster61
spo10.

Imagine the uproar he would kick up if he did.....
22:42 March 6, 2012 by weballergy
I wonder what this people are waiting to help others with such a quantity of money, if they really say they don't care about money (like Bill Gates does and in fact, he help others). This amount of gold, shouldn't be in the hand of only one man. But they might have some "complications" that the mortals we cannot see, for example what Ferrari should buy this time.
08:33 March 7, 2012 by skogsbo
weball, you might like to know that he does spend it, locally. He gave 1 Billion kr to local causes in his home county(Smaland) this Xmas.

His staff employment and pension schemes are also very good, as are many other company benefits.

The differene is Ikea profit is managed by him and a trust, it doesn't go to shareholders, smart move, you retain control of your business decisions then.
10:25 March 7, 2012 by CJ from Sunshine Desserts
At some point in your life you have to come to the logical conclusion that everything you have ever bought from IKEA is crap. As far as his tax avoidance is concerned he´s surely not doing anything illegal, but as far as I`m concerned its an act of treason. My revenge on him is simply never to enter an IKEA store ever again.
14:28 March 7, 2012 by BritVik
CJ from Sunshine Desserts

. . . . . . My revenge on him is simply never to enter an IKEA store ever again.

Well, there are millions of others willing to buy from IKEA, so it is doubtful whether you will be missed, and since it is rubbish as you say, makes you wonder why IKEA is so popular worldwide, doesn't it?
22:28 March 8, 2012 by weballergy
Yes, it's popular because it's products are cheap and has a good balance between quality and price. Not all of them, but it's true.

Furniture stores are usually a rip-off and only if you have a high income (or nothing better where to spend your money on) may afford to buy any "real" furniture.

And it's also a matter if you're interested in renew your stuff quite often. If you prefer to "modernize" your living-room for example, Ikea seems to be a good choice, and you won't have to use the same furniture you bought in the 80's at a price of a liver.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Riksbank unveils new board members

Riksbank unveils new board members

Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ingrad Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, finished fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index published on Friday, with an estimated fortune of $55.6 billion. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
22/05 Accountant to Bank of China
Sjr Ab
Stockholm
22/05 Accountant to Bank of China
SJR AB
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 Accounting Manager
Michael Page
Göteborg
22/05 Accounting Manager
Michael Page
Göteborg, VTG
22/05 Architectural Engineer #8409
Aker Advantage
Stockholm
22/05 Business Developer/Account Manager
TransPerfect Translations
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 CAD/PDM Support Engineer
European Spallation Source ESS AB
SKÅ
22/05 Controller Tele2 Group Product
Tele2
Kista
22/05 Driven och social nätverkstekniker till ett av världens mest kaenda foeretag
Academic Work
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 Head of Product Control - If Industrial
IF skadeförsäkring
Stockholm, Nordic

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now