Five Norwegians rank as billionaires in US-dollar terms, according to the most recent list of the world’s wealthiest people as compiled by the American magazine Forbes.
The wealthiest Norwegian, who now makes his home in London, is once again said to be shipping tycoon John Fredriksen. He’s a self-made mogul who emerged from a modest background to command the world’s largest tanker fleet and then went into offshore, fish farming, debt collection and a variety of other businesses.
Forbes put Fredriksen’s estimated fortune at about USD 7.7 billion, or NOK 45.2 billion, landing him in 88th place on the Forbes list.
The next-wealthiest Norwegian was calculated to be Stein Erik Hagen, founder of the Rimi discount grocery chain who now is chairman of industrial concern Orkla. Hagen’s net worth was estimated at USD 3.5 billion, or NOK 20.6 billion, putting him in 258th place.
The three other wealthy Norwegians were real estate mogul Olav Thon, in 437th place with a fortune of USD 2.2 billion; fisherman and businessman Kjell Inge Røkke, in 556th place with a fortune of USD 1.8 billion; and Arne Wilhelmsen, a co-founder of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, in 655th place.
Views and News staff
