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Stefan Persson
Stefan Persson.jpg
Persson in 2010
Born4 October 1947 (1947-10-04) (age 73)
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
EducationStockholm University
OccupationBusiness magnate
Known for36% owner of H&M
Net worthIncrease US$ 23.7 Billion (March 2nd, 2021)[1]
TitleChairman, H&M
Spouse(s)Pamela Collett
Carolyn Denise Florman
ChildrenKarl-Johan Persson
Charlotte Söderström
Tom Persson
Parent(s)Erling Persson
Margrit Persson
RelativesLottie Tham (sister)

Carl Stefan Erling Persson (Swedish: [ˈstěːfan ˈpæ̌ːʂɔn]; born 4 October 1947) is a Swedish billionaire businessman. In March 2013, Forbes reported Persson's net worth as $28 billion[2] making him the richest of Sweden's 12 billionaires[2] and the 17th richest person in the world;[3] he has since dropped to number 50.[4] Persson was the chairman of fashion company H&M until May 2020, when he was succeeded by his son.[5] He remains the company's largest shareholder, owning a 36% stake.[6] The company was founded by his father Erling Persson in 1947.[7]

Persson took over the company from his father in 1982 and served as its manager until 1998. Persson also owns a substantial stake in the Swedish technology company Hexagon AB. Through his privately held real estate company Ramsbury Invest, Persson owns a large number of properties in London, Paris and Stockholm.

According to the Forbes Billionaires List, Persson had a net worth of US $18.5 billion in 2019, making him the 58th richest person in the world at the time.[8]

Early life[edit]

Stefan Persson is the son of Erling Persson, who founded H&M in 1947.[7] He earned an associate qualification from Stockholm University.[9]

Personal life[edit]

Persson is a founder of the Mentor Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to combat substance abuse among young people.[2] He is a supporter of Djurgårdens IF and is co-funding a foundation for the club.[10] Persson enjoys downhill skiing, tennis and golf. He owns properties in London, Paris and Stockholm and, in 2009, acquired the 21-cottage village of Linkenholt in Hampshire, England.[2]

Persson has three children from his first marriage, to Pamela Collett.[2][11] In 2009, his son, Karl-Johan Persson, took over as president and chief executive of H&M.[9] His other two children, Tom Persson and Charlotte Söderström are also billionaires.[9]

Persson lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his second wife, Denise Persson, née Florman.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaire Index: Stefan Persson". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 March 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Forbes Billionaires Sweden 2013
  3. ^ Forbes The World's Billionaires
  4. ^ "Stefan Persson". Forbes. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Fresh leadership for H&M as longtime chair Stefan Persson steps down - Retail Gazette". www.retailgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Stefan Persson". Forbes. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Stefan Persson". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 September 2010. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link) (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Forbes Billionaires List". Forbes. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d "Forbes profile: Stefan Persson". Forbes. Retrieved 4 October 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  10. ^ Iwanowski, Frank (7 June 2014), Stefan Persson Net Worth, Celebrity
  11. ^ "Stefan Persson family". Tharawat Magazine. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

Further reading[edit]

Biography (In Swedish) The Big Boss. Så tog Stefan Persson H&M ut i världen och blev Sveriges rikaste person. Erik Palm and Jonas Alsgren (2019). Norstedts ISBN 978-91-1-307657-7