Stefan Persson is the chairman and main shareholder in fashion company Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), which was founded by his father Erling Persson. Stefan took over the company in 1982 and served as its chief executive officer

Chief executive officer

A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...

 until 1998. According to Forbes Magazine, Persson had a net worth US$

United States dollar

The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

24.5 billion in 2011, making him the richest person in Sweden and the 13th richest person in the world

Forbes list of billionaires

Forbes list of billionaires is based on an annual assessment of wealth and assets compiled and published by Forbes magazine on March 10, 2011.-Forbes list of billionaires :...

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He is a supporter of Djurgårdens IF and is co-funding a foundation for the club. He also owns the small English village of Linkenholt

Linkenholt

Linkenholt is a village near Andover in Hampshire, England with about 40 inhabitants. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Linchehou, when it was part of the land of the Abbey of St Peter of Gloucester....

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Persson attended the University of Stockholm. He lives in Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 and is married to Carolyn Denise Persson. They have three children. In 2009 his son, Karl-Johan Persson

Karl-Johan Persson

Karl-Johan Erling Göran Persson is the CEO and president of the fashion company Hennes & Mauritz , which was founded by his grandfather Erling Persson. Persson's family enjoyed royal connections. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden attended Karl-Johan's wedding in 2002.Persson attended the European...

, took over as President and CEO of H&M.