Ikea’s founder has had his share of controversy
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kamprad was no stranger to controversy, and it is said his favorite line was, “Only those who are asleep make no mistake.” He was known for undercutting his rivals — so much so, that producers and retailers boycotted the company, and he was banned from taking part in furniture fairs; his solution was to take production to Poland where costs were lower. The company was accused of plagiarism. And in 1994, the media asked him to come clean about his Nazi past. While Kamprad claimed he had no memory of being a paid-up member of the Nazi party, he had undeniably close ties with Sweden’s fascist leader Per Engdahl for many years.
Kamprad was also a shrewd businessman. He left Sweden for Denmark in 1973 to avoid paying taxes; four years after that, he was living in Switzerland. His practices even launched an official EU investigation.
IKEA’s founder lived a modest life
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
If the Bloomberg Billionaires Index lists your name because of your $58.7 billion fortune, we’d imagine that you might be the type to live the high life, with regular appearances in society magazines to show for it. But Ingvar Kamprad was a modest man. Before his death in 2018, Kamprad was known for driving around in his 1993 Volvo (when he wasn’t cycling — a lifelong passion), as well as shopping in flea markets. He called his employees “co-workers,” flew economy class, and stayed in cheap hotels. He even bought cheaper supermarket booze to restock his room’s mini-bars.
One acquaintance who had visited Kamprad’s home in Switzerland told The Guardian, “He was so unassuming, you’d never guess at his wealth. The whole family, they are just not interested. There are no fancy cars or watches even. The company is the passion. And yes, he was a friendly person.”
The Truth About The Founder Of IKEA
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By Hope Ngo/June 15, 2020 7:31 am EST
Ikea’s founder has had his share of controversy
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Kamprad was no stranger to controversy, and it is said his favorite line was, “Only those who are asleep make no mistake.” He was known for undercutting his rivals — so much so, that producers and retailers boycotted the company, and he was banned from taking part in furniture fairs; his solution was to take production to Poland where costs were lower. The company was accused of plagiarism. And in 1994, the media asked him to come clean about his Nazi past. While Kamprad claimed he had no memory of being a paid-up member of the Nazi party, he had undeniably close ties with Sweden’s fascist leader Per Engdahl for many years.
Kamprad was also a shrewd businessman. He left Sweden for Denmark in 1973 to avoid paying taxes; four years after that, he was living in Switzerland. His practices even launched an official EU investigation.
He was known for undercutting his rivals — so much so, that producers and retailers boycotted the company, and he was banned from taking part in furniture fairs; his solution was to take production to Poland where costs were lower. The company was accused of plagiarism. And in 1994, the media asked him to come clean about his Nazi past. While Kamprad claimed he had no memory of being a paid-up member of the Nazi party, he had undeniably close ties with Sweden’s fascist leader Per Engdahl for many years.
Kamprad was also a shrewd businessman. He left Sweden for Denmark in 1973 to avoid paying taxes; four years after that, he was living in Switzerland. His practices even launched an official EU investigation.
IKEA’s founder lived a modest life
If the Bloomberg Billionaires Index lists your name because of your $58.7 billion fortune, we’d imagine that you might be the type to live the high life, with regular appearances in society magazines to show for it. But Ingvar Kamprad was a modest man. Before his death in 2018, Kamprad was known for driving around in his 1993 Volvo (when he wasn’t cycling — a lifelong passion), as well as shopping in flea markets. He called his employees “co-workers,” flew economy class, and stayed in cheap hotels. He even bought cheaper supermarket booze to restock his room’s mini-bars.
One acquaintance who had visited Kamprad’s home in Switzerland told The Guardian, “He was so unassuming, you’d never guess at his wealth. The whole family, they are just not interested. There are no fancy cars or watches even. The company is the passion. And yes, he was a friendly person.”
One acquaintance who had visited Kamprad’s home in Switzerland told The Guardian, “He was so unassuming, you’d never guess at his wealth. The whole family, they are just not interested. There are no fancy cars or watches even. The company is the passion. And yes, he was a friendly person.”
