Swedish business magnate Stefan Persson has an estimated net worth of $16.1 billion in May 2019.

He earned his net worth as the current chairman (since 1979) and main shareholder in the fashion company Hennes & Mauritz (H&M). The global cheap chic apparel retailer was founded by his father Erling Persson in 1947. He took over the company from his father in 1982 and he has served as its chief executive until 1998 when he was replaced by his son, Karl-Johan Persson. He has been chairman since 1979. The stock is up 40% since then, as the retailer continues its international expansion. It now has 2629 stores in 45 countries including its first in Malaysia that opened in 2012.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he had a net worth of $23.5 billion in 2012 making him the 17th richest person in the world. He has lately been making news for his high profile real estate investments. In 2009, he acquired the 21-cottage village of Linkenholt in Hampshire, England. He picked up an entire block in Paris in March for a reported $219 million. He became the landlord to Burberry, Moschino, and Bally. He also owns several properties that he then leases back to H&M.

Born Carl Stefan Erling Persson on October 4, 1947 in Stockholm, Sweden, he attended the University of Stockholm. He still lives in Stockholm with his wife Caroline Denise Persson and they have three children. He enjoys downhill skiing, tennis, and golf.He is the founder of the Mentor Foundation, a non-profit organization that combats substance among the youth.