17 Facts About Olav Thon

Olav Thon's Olav Thon Group is Norway's largest private real estate company, with 450 properties, including 60 hotels.

Olav Thon was born on 29 June 1923 in Al, Hallingdal, Norway.

Olav Thon's parents were businessman Sevat Embrikson and Margit Engebretsdatter Dok.

Olav Thon started his business career as a boy at home on the family farm in Al, where he farmed fur animals and bought and sold skins from foxes, squirrels and rabbits.

At the age of 8, Olav Thon started ordering a supply of Christmas cards from a mail-order catalog and selling them to his neighbors.

At the age of 16, Olav Thon moved to Oslo, and in 1941, he established his own fur shop.

Olav Thon bought his first building in 1951 and opened his first restaurant in 1966.

Olav Thon's company owns a total of 450 properties in Norway, including shopping malls, office buildings, retail stores, and hotels.

In 1952, Olav Thon traveled to Iceland on a business trip, however when he returned in 1953, he was arrested and detained on suspicion of customs fraud.

Olav Thon was later sentenced to pay a fine of NOK 50,000 and a one-year suspended sentence.

Besides his hotel and real estate investments, in 1992, Olav Thon acquired Unger Fabrikker AS.

In 2007, Olav Thon was listed with a fortune of NOK 20.8 billion, which made him Norway's 2nd richest person.

Olav Thon was a Christian and was married; he did not have any children.

Olav Thon enjoyed various outdoor activities and was an honorary member of the Norwegian Trekking Association.

Olav Thon was quoted as saying he was "proud of his success, and his large tax bill, which he says he is glad to pay".

Olav Thon was appointed honorary doctorate at Karlstad University in 2013.

Olav Thon was married to Inger-Johanne Olav Thon until her death.