Lars Larsen – Billionaire

Lars Larsen is the founder and owner of JYSK, a bedding and home furnishings chain with more than 2,300 stores in 43 countries throughout Europe, Canada, and Asia. Capitalizing on the popularity of the Scandinavian design aesthetic, JYSK has been working to emphasize its Danish roots in store displays, particularly in China. Larsen grew up on a potato farm and apprenticed in a bedding store before opening his first warehouse in 1979. A quarter of a century later, he sent 2.4 million copies of his autobiography to every household in Denmark, becoming the country’s most widely-read author. Nicknamed “Duvet Larsen,” he regularly appears in TV commercials for JYSK.

Lars Larsen net worth: Lars Larsen is a Danish entrepreneur, founder and owner of JYSK who has a net worth of $3.9 billion. Lars Larsen was raised on a potato farm and apprenticed in a bedding store. Even though he had practically no money at the time, he nurtured the idea of opening his own chain of bed linen outlets. Larsen opened his first bedding warehouse on April 2, 1979, in the city of Aarhus in Jutland. Until now, JYSK has been steadily growing, and in 2012 it managed to sell more than $3.5 billion worth of furniture, bedding, home decor and mattresses. Having IKEA for a competitor, the furnishings chain now is in the middle of a big international push, targeting China among other markets. JYSK has stores in 34 countries and it conducts two to three store openings every week on average. In honor of the JYSK’s 30 year anniversary, Larsen self-published the book titled “30 år med JYSK” (30 years with JYSK), which is a history about him and the growing Danish retail trade. Apart from being written in 8 languages, a free copy of the book was mailed to every single household in Denmark, making it the #1 book in the kingdom. Apart form the JYSK Group, Lars Larsen owns or partly owns other companies, including “Bolia.com”, “Interior Direct” and “Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.” As of March 2013, he was listed as the 2nd richest person in Denmark and the 363rd wealthiest man in the world, according to Forbes. Larsen is married with two children. In the summer of 2010, Larsen was honored by being knighted in the Order of the Dannebrog, a order of chivalry in his native Denmark. On an additional business world note, in addition to being the founder of JYSK, he also lends his name to a timepiece brand in Denmark, known simply as Lars Larsen Watches.

Source:

1. forbes

2. celebritynetworth