Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Posted by African Press International on January 21, 2008
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
The shipping and grocery store businesses have enriched the majority of those Norwegians with the largest fortunes in the country. Shipowner John Fredriksen, who built up his own wealth, continues to dominate the top of the list, with a net worth reported to be NOK 55.5 billion (USD 10 billion) by magazine Kapital. Fredriksen is 63 years old and proud of hailing from a working class neighbourhood on Oslo’s east side. He’s officially a citizen of Cyprus now, however, after turning in his Norwegian passport in protest over Norway’s tax system.
PHOTO: STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Stein Erik Hagen, age 51, made a fortune offering cheaper groceries to Norwegians used to paying high prices. He founded the RIMI grocery store chain, has since branched into industry and real estate ventures, and is estimated to have NOK 24 billion in net worth. Norwegians still pay around three times the price for everyday items than their counterparts in other countries.
PHOTO: HÅKON MOSVOLD LARSEN
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Third on the list of Norway’s wealthiest (they’re all men) is real estate developer Olav Thon, now age 84 and still working. His net worth was pegged by magazine Kapital at NOK 20.8 billion.
PHOTO: TERJE BENDIKSBY/SCANPIX
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Kjell Inge Røkke has spent the past month in jail, serving a 30-day term in a bribery scandal, but he remains one of Norway’s biggest industrialists. The former fisherman now controls the Aker group and he’s the country’s fourth-wealthiest, with a reported NOK 19.8 billion.
PHOTO: HÅKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/SCANPIX
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
The fifth-richest man in Norway also can tie his fortunes to the grocery store business. Johan Johannson is the largest owner of retailing firm NorgesGruppen, which owns the KIWI, Meny and Spar grocery store chains. He’s also from the family behind coffee wholesaler Joh. Johannson. The media-shy grocery store baron is reportedly good for NOK 15 billion.
PHOTO: OLAV OLSEN
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
In sixth place is yet another grocery store tycoon, Odd Reitan. He founded the REMA 1000 grocery store chain and remains in the business, with a net worth of NOK 14.4 billion.
PHOTO: STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/SCANPIX
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Johan H Andresen Jr inherited his fortune from a tobacco wholesaling family, and now runs investment firm Ferd AS. His fortune was pegged at NOK 13.6 billion.
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Shipping is behind the wealth of Arne Wilhelmsen (left), whose family has long had major stakes in Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, tankers and other shipping and offshore ventures. His net worth: NOK 11.25 billion. At right, his brother Gjert.
PHOTO: KNUT SNARE
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Arne Blystad also owes his fortune to the shipping business. He and his brother Vilhelm were big in the 1980s and almost disappeared in the 1990s, but Arne has made a comeback in recent years. His fortune was estimated to be NOK 10 billion.
PHOTO: SVEIN ERIK FURULUND
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Jacob Stolt-Nielsen (right) has been in trouble with US authorities over alleged cartel operations in the shipping business, but that apparently hasn’t hurt his fortune. Magazine Kapital pegged it at NOK 9.2 billion, up NOK 2 billion from last year. At left, Karin Berg of the Norwegian Ski Museum that’s received grants from Stolt-Nielsen.
PHOTO: JAN GREVE
Norway’s wealthiest individuals
Fred Olsen (tight) was long considered one of Norway’s wealthiest and most powerful, but his ranking has slipped a bit. The shipowner and power behind Timex watches, among other businesses, is also reportedly good for NOK 9.2 billion.
PHOTO: OLAV OLSEN
Published by Korir, African Press International (API) africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng
Gabbs n. said
Hi.do their have their contact please