Stefan Persson
Source of wealth: H&M
...
...
The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Stefan Persson's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Stefan Persson could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 9.5 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Stefan Persson could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 4.2 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Stefan Persson could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 6.2 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Stefan Persson could pay for it entirely for 8.4 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Stefan Persson could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 35.4 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Stefan Persson with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.8 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Stefan Persson's fortune is equivalent to 144 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Stefan Persson could buy 38,505,490 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 7 trucks to transport them. Although Stefan Persson will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Stefan Persson is Sweden's richest person by way of global cheap chic fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz, of which he owns almost 50%.
Persson stepped down as chairman in May 2020 after 22 years in the role; his son Karl-Johan succeeded him.
H&M was founded by Persson's father Erling in 1947.
Persson's two other children, Charlotte S'derstr?m and Tom Persson, and his sister Lottie Tham, are also billionaires.
Financial Assets
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison