Hans Rausing, the billionaire Swedish industrialist who helped turn Tetra Pak into one of the world's biggest food packaging companies, has died aged 93. Hans died at his home, Wadhurst Park in southern England, on Friday. "Hans Rausing, the industrialist and entrepreneur, died peacefully in his sleep at his home... on Friday 30 August," the family statement said. "His wife Marit was at his side."
Hans was the son of Ruben Rausing, founder of Tetra Laval. Tetra Laval consists of three industry groups—Tetra Pak, Sidel and Delaval.
Hans ran the firm Tetra Pak from 1950 to 1995—when he sold his share in the family business to his brother.
Hans co-inherited half of the Tetra Laval carton maker from his father in 1983 and sold his stake to his brother Gad in 1995 for around $7 billion. In the 2011 Forbes world fortune ranking, Rausing was placed at number 83 with an estimated fortune of $10 billion. He moved to England in 1982 and settled on the Wadhurst Park estate in East Sussex where he pursued his interests in sporting and country life, the statement said.
Hans was known for his philanthropy in Sweden and the UK. His family's fortune, estimated by Forbes at $12 billion (£9.8bn), makes them one of the richest living in the UK.
In 2006 he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his philanthropic activities. He is survived by his wife, daughters Lisbet and Sigrid, and son Hans Kristian Rausing.
(With agency inputs)
