Ingvar Kamprad Short biography
Ingvar Kamprad was a Swedish entrepreneur best known for founding the multinational retail company IKEA. IKEA is one of the world's largest furniture retailers, and Kamprad was one of the richest people in the world at the time of his death in 2018, with an estimated net worth of US$42.5 billion as of March 2024.
Kamprad was born in Sweden in 1926. He started IKEA in 1943 when he was just 17 years old. The company started out as a mail-order business, selling a variety of household goods. In 1951, Kamprad opened IKEA's first retail store in Älmhult, Sweden. The store was a success, and IKEA began to expand rapidly. By the 1960s, IKEA had stores in several countries across Europe. In the 1970s, IKEA began to expand into North America and Asia. Today, IKEA has stores in over 40 countries around the world.
Kamprad was a controversial figure. He was known for his frugality and his insistence on keeping costs low at IKEA. He was also accused of tax avoidance and of using questionable business practices. However, Kamprad was also a generous philanthropist. He donated large sums of money to various charities and causes.
Kamprad died in 2018 at the age of 91. He left behind a legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation. He is credited with revolutionizing the furniture industry and making affordable furniture available to people all over the world.
