Olav Thon, a real estate and tourism tycoon in Norway, has died at the age of 101. He owned several dozen shopping centers and hotels in northern Europe. His fortune was valued at 25 billion crowns (approximately PLN 9.3 billion).
For 70 years, he headed the real estate concern he founded, Olav Thon Gruppen, whose branches dealt with hotels and housing construction. The company also invests in shopping centers.
In Norway alone, Thon Hotels has 10,000 hotel rooms. In Sweden and Norway, Thon Eiendom owns over 90 department stores.
Who was Olav Thon
Thon is a legend of Norwegian business. He was born on a farm in the Norwegian countryside, but at the age of 17 he opened his first fur shop in Oslo. He started building his real estate empire in 1950.
He was known for his social activities. He was honorary chairman of the Norwegian Tourism Association. He supported charity and humanitarian activities. He sponsored dozens of children’s sports clubs.
He was recognizable thanks to his red woolen hat, which he never took off, and his loose, tourist clothes.
In 2019, he married his long-time partner Sissel Berdal Haga. The couple had no children. He remained in excellent health almost until his death, but in 2013 he donated all shares in his companies to the Thon Stiftelsen foundation, which supports scientific and research activities in the medical sector.
photo-source">Main photo source: Martin Solhaug Standal/NTB/PAP
