IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad dead at 91
Ingvar Kamprad
Billionaire IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad  has died aged 91   the Swedish company said on Sunday   with the furniture empire  he  launched more than half a century ago familiar around the globe .  Kamprad  founded IKEA in 1943 when  he  was just 17   but didn ’ t hit gold until 1956   when the company pioneered flat - pack furniture .  He  got the idea as  he  watched an employee taking the legs off a table to fit it into a customer ’ s car and realised that saving space meant saving money . The retailer is now heading for 50 billion euros ($ 62 billion ) in annual revenues . Slideshow ( 7 Images ) “ One of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century   Ingvar Kamprad   has peacefully passed away   at his home in Smaland   Sweden   on the 27th of January  ” the company said . Born on March 30   1926   in southern Sweden   Kamprad started off selling matches to neighbours at the age of five and soon diversified his inventory to include seeds   Christmas tree decorations   pencils and ball - point pens . “ Ingvar Kamprad was a great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind - hardworking and stubborn   with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye  ” the company said . “ He worked until the very end of his life   staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done .” ($ 1 = 0 . 8052 euros )
[TGT]has died aged 91   the Swedish company said on Sunday   with the furniture empire  [TGT]  launched more than half a century ago familiar around the globe .  [TGT]founded IKEA in 1943 when  [TGT]  was just 17   but didn ’ t hit gold until 1956   when the company pioneered flat - pack furniture .  He  got the idea as  he  watched an employee taking the legs off a table to fit it into a customer ’ s car and realised that saving space meant saving money . The retailer is now heading for 50 billion euros ($ 62 billion ) in annual revenues . Slideshow ( 7 Images ) “ One of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century   [TGT]has peacefully passed away   at [TGT] home in Smaland   Sweden   on the 27th of January  ” the company said . Born on March 30   1926   in southern Sweden   [TGT] started off selling matches to neighbours at the age of five and soon diversified [TGT] inventory to include seeds   Christmas tree decorations   pencils and ball - point pens . “ Ingvar Kamprad was a great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind - hardworking and stubborn   with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye  ” the company said . “ He worked until the very end of his life   staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done .” ($ 1 = 0 . 8052 euros )