Ingvar Kamprad
Born 1926 · Age 99
Swedish entrepreneur, founder of IKEA (founded 1943). Built IKEA into a global furniture retailer; noted for frugality, philanthropy and controversial early political affiliations.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Ingvar Kamprad and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Pjätteryd (Älmhult Municipality), Småland, Sweden
Feodor Ingvar Kamprad born to Feodor Kamprad and Berta Nilsson on the family lands near Älmhult.
Began selling matches
Started his first entrepreneurial activity, selling matches locally.
Family moved to Elmtaryd farm
At age seven the family moved to the Elmtaryd farm (the 'E' in IKEA) where he grew up.
Expanded childhood trading activities
Sold seeds, fish, Christmas decorations and other goods; began thinking about distribution inefficiencies.
Faced supplier boycotts; began designing own merchandise and sourcing abroad
In the early 1950s (approx. late 1940s–early 1950s) suppliers resisted IKEA; Kamprad responded by designing own products and contracting foreign manufacturers.
Bought bicycle and typewriter from trading profits
Earnings from seed/pen sales allowed purchase of a bicycle (for deliveries) and a typewriter (to keep customer register). Date approximate.
Joined New Swedish Movement (Nysvenska Rörelsen)
At 16 he joined Per Engdahl's pro‑fascist New Swedish Movement; remained active into 1945.
Attended Gothenburg's Handelsinstitut
Studied at Gothenburg's Handelsinstitut (now Hvitfeldtska Gymnasiet) from 1943 to 1945.
Registered trading company IKEA
Company registered as IKEA (Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd) at his uncle's kitchen table; started selling small goods by mail/phone.
Added furniture to IKEA's range
Diversified IKEA's mail-order business by adding furniture to the product offering.
Started Mrs. Berta Kamprad’s Fund to Fight Cancer (informal)
Following his mother's cancer diagnosis in the early 1950s he started a fund to raise money for cancer research (later formalised in 1986).
Married first wife Kerstin Wadling
Married Kerstin Wadling (marriage recorded circa 1950; later divorced).
IKEA focused solely on home furnishings
By 1951 IKEA had transitioned to offering only home furnishings as the core business.
Opened showroom in Älmhult
IKEA opened a showroom in Älmhult, an important early retail milestone.
Mother Berta Kamprad died
His mother Berta (b.1901) died of cancer in 1956; spurred later philanthropic activity in her name.
Introduced flat-pack (flat‑boxed) furniture
Launched flat-packed furniture designed for home assembly — a breakthrough reducing shipping and storage costs.
Adopted daughter Annika; first retail outlet opened
Adopted daughter Annika in 1958. In the same year IKEA opened its first retail outlet (store model).
Divorced first wife (approx.)
Divorce from Kerstin Wadling reported around 1960–1961 (sources differ on exact year).
Married Margaretha Stennert
Married Margaretha (born 1938); they had three sons: Peter, Jonas and Mathias.
Moved to Switzerland
Kamprad moved to Épalinges, Switzerland with his Swiss wife; lived there for ~40 years.
Published 'A Testament of a Furniture Dealer' (manifesto)
Published his manifesto on frugality and simplicity outlining IKEA philosophy.
Stichting INGKA Foundation named after Kamprad (chairmanship)
The Dutch-registered Stichting INGKA Foundation (ING+KA) owns INGKA Holding (parent of IKEA stores). Kamprad was chairman; structure used for corporate ownership/charitable control.
Founded Mrs. Berta Kamprad's Cancer Foundation
Established the foundation to support cancer research and treatment in memory of his mother; has donated >400 million SEK since inception.
Apologised for Nazi/fascist affiliations in employee letter
In a 1994 letter and in subsequent writings he described his 1940s affiliation with fascist movements as 'the greatest mistake of my life'.
Published 'Historien om IKEA' (Leading by Design, Swedish edition)
Co-wrote the autobiographical account of IKEA with journalist Bertil Torekull (English edition 1999).
English edition: 'Leading by Design: The IKEA Story'
English-language edition (HarperCollins) of his IKEA autobiography, co-authored with Bertil Torekull, published circa 1999.
IKEA began selling online
Launched e-commerce sales, marking a major step in modern retailing for the company.
IKEA catalogue reached largest annual print run
IKEA's catalogue became the world’s largest annual print run, reflecting global reach.
Publicly acknowledged alcoholism and treatment cycle
Kamprad said his drinking was under control; NYT reported he 'dried out' regularly (three times a year).
Published wealth ranking controversy in Veckans Affärer
Swedish weekly reported Kamprad among the world's wealthiest, a figure disputed due to foundation ownership structures.
Profiled for frugality (drives 1993 Volvo 240, flies economy)
Media reported on his famously frugal personal habits; he encouraged cost-consciousness at IKEA.
IKEA became world's largest furniture seller
By 2008 IKEA had grown to be the world's largest seller of furniture.
IKEA catalogue issued in more than two dozen languages
By around 2009 the IKEA catalogue was issued in over twenty languages, reflecting global footprint.
Forbes estimated net worth at US$23 billion
Forbes estimated Kamprad's fortune at $23B (March 2010), ranking him among the world's richest — later contested.
Forbes ranking adjusted after legal disclosures
After lawyers showed Stichting/Inter IKEA structures owned IKEA and barred family benefit, his Forbes ranking fell significantly (to #162 in one report).
Revelations of deeper Nazi ties (2011 book findings)
Author Elisabeth Åsbrink's 2011 findings suggested Kamprad's youth ties to Nazi sympathizers extended deeper than previously acknowledged.
Wife Margaretha died
Margaretha Stennert (born 1938), his second wife, died in 2011 after decades together; Kamprad later moved back to Sweden.
Resigned from board of Inter IKEA Holding SA
Kamprad stepped down from the Inter IKEA Holding SA board; his youngest son Mathias joined as chairman of the holding company.
Moved back to Småland, Sweden
After nearly 40 years in Switzerland, Kamprad returned to Småland in March 2014.
Named sons sole heirs of Ikano Group (valued)
Reportedly named his sons heirs of Ikano Group; the entity was valued at about US$1.5 billion; adopted daughter planned to receive ~$300k.
Forbes reported net worth at US$3.5 billion (March)
Forbes reported a much lower estimate ($3.5B, March 2015) after corporate ownership clarifications — highlighting valuation uncertainty.
Bloomberg listed net worth at US$58.7 billion (June)
Bloomberg Billionaires Index listed him as the 8th wealthiest person with an estimated $58.7B (June 2015) — a figure inconsistent with other sources.
Will revealed philanthropic bequest to Norrland
According to his will, half of his estate would go to projects in Norrland to develop northern Sweden; the rest to his children.
Died in Småland of pneumonia
Died in his sleep at home in Småland on 27 January 2018. Will left half of estate to projects in Norrland and half to his four children.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Ingvar Kamprad and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Herb Kelleher
Born 1931 · Age 94
Herb Kelleher (March 12, 1931 – January 3, 2019) was an American lawyer and airline businessman, co‑founder of Southwest Airlines; later served as CEO and was chairman emeritus until his death.
Desmond Tutu
Born 1931 · Age 94
South African Anglican bishop, theologian and anti-apartheid and human-rights activist; first Black Bishop of Johannesburg and first Black Archbishop of Cape Town; Nobel Peace Prize laureate and chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Osho
Born 1931 · Age 94
Indian spiritual teacher and founder of the Rajneesh/Osho movement; advocated dynamic meditation and neo-sannyas, led ashrams in Pune and Rajneeshpuram (Oregon), involved in major controversies including legal battles and the 1984 bioterror attack; later known as Osho.
Rupert Murdoch
Born 1931 · Age 94
Australian‑American media magnate who built News Corporation into a global media empire spanning newspapers, book publishing, film and television; founder of News Corp and architect of Fox network/News Corp/21st Century Fox/Fox Corporation.
Ram Dass
Born 1931 · Age 94
American psychologist turned spiritual teacher and writer who popularized Eastern spirituality and yoga in the West; author of Be Here Now and founder/co-founder of several service organizations.
Martin Lipton
Born 1931 · Age 94
American corporate lawyer; founding partner of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; pioneer in mergers & acquisitions and corporate governance (inventor of the 'poison pill'); longtime NYU trustee and law professor.