[Paleo Conservative]

The billionaire Swede, who turns 80 on March 30, explained his legendary habits during a rare television interview in Switzerland, his adoptive home for nearly 30 years.

Gee! I wonder why he moved from Sweden to Switzerland? Might it be taxes?

[muawiyah]

IKEA is one of the reasons Swedes, and other Europeans, can live well on exceedingly limited disposable incomes.

We have a store nearby ~ great place to shop.

[Unmarked Package]

There are very few character traits that I admire more than frugality. Being disciplined and frugal is an excellent strategy to avoid many self-imposed stresses in life and achieve financial independence at a very early age. If approached with the right attitude, it can be very satisfying and great fun finding clever ways to save money.

[Tijeras_Slim]

His fortune was recently estimated at $28 billion by Forbes magazine -- trailing only Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, U.S. investor Warren Buffett and Mexican industrialist Carlos Slim.

I have gotta see if I'm related to this guy.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"Last week he made a donation of 500,000 swiss francs ($379,900) to the Lausanne cantonal art school"

So he is not that cheap.

[Looking4Truth]

Mexican industrialist Carlos Slim.

I wonder how 'ol Carlos got his money.

In keeping with Swedish tradition, Kamprad said he prepares and brings glogg, or hot wine, to "good neighbors" at Christmas along with his three sons.
Last week he made a donation of 500,000 swiss francs ($379,900) to the Lausanne cantonal art school, where his son studied.

I wonder if ol' Carlos is this generous to his people. It would probably keep a few of them from trying to illegally invade the U.S.

[JRios1968]

[AnotherUnixGeek]

IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, ranked 4th richest man in the world, drives a 15-year-old car and always flies economy class, in part to inspire his 90,000 employees worldwide to see the virtue of frugality.

A billionaire making a show of his frugality is no better than a billionaire making a show of his excesses. I'm glad not to be one of this cheapskate's employees.

[Lil'freeper]

Ping

[djf]

My wife used to buy the stuff - a couple times, till I put my foot down.

Great construction. Trouble is, everything she ever got was made from some kind of soft Nordic pine or something.

No hardwoods. Nothing substantial. Stuff would break if you looked sideways at it.

[djf]

Besides that, I imagine the title should be "Ikea founder glad to be ANYTHING at 80!!"

:)

[goldstategop]

Ikea has revolutionized the furniture business. Well made affordable furniture you could put together yourself with a few tools. Its remarkable no one saw it before. And of course, the company's catalogue made it famous. I still get it in the mail every year.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")