Hans Rausing
Hans Rausing KBE (born 1926), a British based Swedish born businessman, is among the world's wealthiest people with a reported net worth, in 2007, of 5.4 billion UK pounds (approx. 11 billion US dollars). He made his wealth from his co-inheritance of Tetra Pak (later Tetra Laval), a company founded by his father Ruben Rausing that is currently the largest packing production company in the world.
At Tetra Laval, he served as the Managing Director for 37 years until 1996 when he sold his half of the company to his late brother, Gad Rausing, for a reported 7 billion dollars. Over the course of his business career, he has become a specialist in Russian affairs and has made many private investments in both Russia and Ukraine. Rausing currently lives in Wadhurst, East Sussex, England, on a 900 acre (3.6 km²) estate. There, he collects vintage cars and raises deer. Rausing owns a residence in Barbados, and also in his homeland Sweden, where he often goes on vacation.
He is the father of Lisbet Rausing, Sigrid Rausing and Hans Kristian Rausing.
Sold his share in packaging giant Tetra Laval, the company founded by his father Ruben in 1944, to brother Gad for an estimated $7 billion in 1995. Has since invested in Ecolean, a small packaging company that produces highly biodegradable products. Moved to England in early 1980s to avoid punitive Swedish taxes. Now resides on a 900-acre estate in the village of Wadhurst in East Sussex. Collects vintage cars.
The Mail on Sunday has published a report on “Britain’s top 300 millionaires, with former Tetra Pak packaging heir Hans Rausing leading the print, paper, packaging and publishing entries.
Despite falling from last year's top spot, Rausing earned more than £820,000 a day in 2003, taking his fortune to £6.6bn, and putting him at number two in the top 300 listing.
Tetra Pak heiress Kirtsen Rausing, niece to Hans Rausing, was ranked 11th, down from seventh last year, and listed as Britain’s second-richest woman.
Media baron Viscount Rothermere, who inherited the Daily Mail and General Trust in 1998 finished 38th, with a fortune of £793m.
Packaging boss Michael Cornish ranked 41st, making him one of the highest climbers, jumping from 192. Cornish sold the Linpac business last year to Montague Private Equity. His worth was valued at £750m
Press baron Richard Desmond owner of Express Newspapers came in at 75 up from 81 in 2003, with a fortune of £495m, while fellow press baron Richard Sullivan moved up one place to 85 with £430m in the bank.
Lads' magazine publisher Felix Dennis fell one place to 93 with a value of £405m, whilst the Blackwell family of Blackwell Publishing fell from 93 to 102 with £396m in change.
Brian Thomson of DC Thomson was down to 142 from 115 last year, with a value of £290m, whilst the Johnston family of fellow Scottish publisher Johnston Press dropped two places to 144 with a wealth estimated at £286m. Hans Rausing
Haymarket’s owner Michael Heseltine took a slight tumble from 137 to 170, with his publishing wealth valued at £240m.
Hans Rausing The Smurfit family value has been pushed up to £239m, following the sale of Jefferson Smurfit in 2002. This didn’t stop them taking a fall from 136 to 174 in the 2004 rankings.
Scientific publisher Dr Philip Brown and wife Patricia sold PJB Publishing to Informa for £150m, taking their value to £188m, but still down from 187 to 220 in the chart.
Lord Black of Crossharbour also slid down the ladder to 235 from 211 with a fortune of £175m.
The Graham family, owners of the newspaper publishing group Claverley, propped up the table at 292, down 10 places but with a value of £132m.
