Arthur L. Irving, OC ONB (born 1930) is a Canadian businessman, born in New Brunswick, the second son of industrialist K.C. Irving. Arthur, along with his brother J.K., share the ownership of what is known informally as the Irving Group of Companies. With an estimated net worth of US$5.5 billion (as of March 2015) according to Forbes, Arthur Irving was ranked by Forbes as the 5th wealthiest person in Canada and 271st in the world.
Background
Following their father’s death in 1992, ownership and responsibility for the Irving companies was divided as follows:
- J.K. – ownership and responsibility for J.D. Irving, the conglomerate which has interests in forestry, pulp and paper, tissue, building supplies, frozen food, transportation, shipping lines, and shipbuilding among others.
- Arthur – ownership and responsibility for Irving Oil, its retail stores, oil refineries, oil tankers and distribution terminals and other facilities.
- Jack – ownership and responsibility for construction, engineering and steel fabrication companies. Died in July 2010 at the age of 78. Succeeded by eldest son, John K. F. Irving.
All companies within the Irving conglomerate are vertically integrated and buy services and products of other companies, thereby maintaining profits within their operations.
Since 1996, Arthur Irving has served as Chancellor of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
In 2002, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2012, he was made a member of the Order of New Brunswick.
In 2008, along with his brothers he was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
Arthur Irving has been involved with Ducks Unlimited and in establishing the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre at Acadia University.
- New Brunswick native Arthur Irving owns 100% of Irving Oil, which operates gas stations and oil refineries, through the Arthur Irving Family Trust.
- Arthur is a third-generation member of a Canadian dynasty. His grandfather, James Dergavel Irving, started the family business in the late 1800s.
- His dad Kenneth Colin (K.C) Irving added oil operations in 1920s; Arthur and his 2 brothers reportedly divided up the empire after KC’s death in 1992.
- Arthur’s brother James Irving, also a billionaire, took over a conglomerate that spans shipbuilding to forestry.
- A third Irving brother, John (known as Jack), headed the family’s construction operations and owned part of Irving Oil. He passed away in 2010.
- In 2018, The Arthur Irving Family Trust bought out Jack Irving family’s stake to assume 100% ownership of Irving Oil.
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