Kjell Inge Røkke
| Kjell Inge Røkke | |
|---|---|
| Born |
25 October 1958 Molde, Norway |
| Residence | London, England |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Net worth | NOK 17.2 billion ≈ $2.6 billion (2015 estimate) |
| Spouse(s) | Kari Monsen Røkke (deceased) (m. 1980–1992) Anne Grete Eidsvig (m. 2004–) |
| Children | Kristian Røkke (b. 1983) Elisabeth Røkke (b. 1987) Normann Røkke (b. 2004) Per Frijof Røkke (b. 2007) |
| Parent(s) | Normann Røkke (1926-2016) Gunnvor Røkke |
Kjell Inge Røkke (born 25 October 1958) is a Norwegian businessman and philanthropist, and is among the richest people in Norway, controlling the Norwegian company Aker ASA.
Røkke is Aker ASA’s main owner, has been a driving force in the development of Aker since the 1990s. Røkke launched his business career with the purchase of a 69-foot trawler in the United States in 1982, and gradually built a leading worldwide fisheries business. In 1996, the Røkke controlled company, RGI, purchased enough Aker shares to become Aker’s largest shareholder, and later merged RGI with Aker. Røkke is currently director of Aker Solutions, Aker BP, Kvaerner and Ocean Yield. As at 31 December 2016, Røkke holds 68.2 per cent of the shares in Aker ASA through his investment company TRG AS and its subsidiaries, which he co-owns with his wife, Anne Grete Eidsvig (b. 1966).
In 2015, Røkke was considered to be the tenth richest person in Norway, with a fortune of NOK 17.2 billion, approximately 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. By May 2017, his fortune was estimated to be 2.7 billion U.S. Dollars.
Røkke started out as a fisherman aged 18, and has no secondary or higher education. In 1979, he moved to the U.S. to work on fishing trawlers in Alaska. Working as a fisherman, he saved up enough money to buy his first trawlers. He eventually owned the American Seafoods Company. Røkke was based in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s, owning and operating American Seafoods Company and Resource Group International (RGI), which included Brooks Sports and Helly Hansen. In the mid-1990s, Røkke returned to Norway. In 1996, Røkke become Aker’s main shareholder and a driving force in the company’s development when RGI purchased enough Aker shares to become Aker’s largest shareholder; the two companies subsequently merged. The merger between RGI and Aker was completed in January 1997. Through Aker, Røkke gained an important position within fisheries, and acquired the long-established fishery business J.M. Johansen with roots back to 1876. Real estate and shipyards is also part of the new company portfolio.
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