Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (Danish pronunciation: [ˈkʰelˀ ˈkʰiɐ̯k kʰʁeˈstjænˀsn̩]; born 27 December 1947) is the former President and CEO of The Lego Group (1979–2004). According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Kristiansen is the third richest Dane, with a net worth of $6.75 billion as of April 2021. He is the grandson of Lego founder Ole Kirk Christiansen.
What is Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen’s net worth?
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is a Danish businessman who has a net worth is $6 billion. That fortune makes him one of the richest people in Denmark. He has at times been the richest person in Denmark, but in recent years Kristiansen’s fortune has been eclipsed by Anders Holch Povlsen and Neils Louis-Hansen.
After a family rearrangement in 2011, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen was left as owner of 51% of LEGO. Other family members and the family charitable organization, The Lego Foundation, own the remaining 49%.
Biography
Kristiansen was born 27 December 1947 in Billund, Denmark. His father, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, worked with his grandfather, Ole Kirk Christiansen, in the family business: Lego. As a child, he often inspired and tested new model concepts and their building instructions. He also appeared on many of the company’s packages and marketing materials. In 1979, he became president and CEO of The Lego Group. Kristiansen introduced themes, minifigures, LEGO.com, Lego Mindstorms and licensed properties. In 2004, he stepped down as president and CEO to focus on his role as owner of the Lego Group and vice-chairman of the board, while maintaining his role as chairman of the board of KIRKBI A/S, Lego Holding A/S and the Lego Foundation. Lego is privately held and is controlled by the Kristiansen family and their foundations.
Kristiansen and his wife, Camilla, live in Denmark and have three children: Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, Sofie Kirk Kristiansen, and Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, a Danish Olympic dressage rider.
Kristiansen holds a bachelor’s degree from Aarhus University and an MBA from IMD Business School, Switzerland.
Awards
He has received many awards in his professional career.
- Knight 1st Class (Officer) of Denmark’s Dannebrog Order
- 1996: The Freedom Prize from the Max Schmidheiny Foundation [de], Switzerland
- 1996: Distinguished Family Business Award from the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Switzerland
- Moran (Peony) insignia of the Order of Civil Merit from the Korean government
- Founder’s Award from Dean Kamen
- 2008: he was inducted in the National Toy Hall of Fame. The Toy Hall of Fame was established in 1984 to recognize those people who have contributed most significantly to the toy industry. Past inductees include Ole Kirk Christiansen, Kjeld’s grandfather and Lego founder, inducted in 1989.
