Billionaire Hans Rausing, head of Tetra Pak family, dies aged 93
THE BILLIONAIRE head of the Tetra Pak family, Hans Rausing, died yesterday aged 93.
His family said Prof Rausing died at his private estate in East Sussex with his wife Märit at his side.
The Swedish-born industralist was the son of Ruben Rausing, who came up with the idea for Tetra Pak after his wife, Elisabeth Varenius, suggested he invent a lightweight alternative to milk bottles.
Hans and his brother Gad marketed the product and today 137 billion patented Tetra Paks are sold each year.
In a joint statement, his children Lisbet, Sigrid and Hans Kristian praised their dad as “extraordinary”.
They said: “Our father was an extraordinary man, achieving so many things in his long and distinguished career as entrepreneur and industrialist, and then as a philanthropist supporting multiple charities and foundations.
“We are very proud of that, but most of all we will cherish our fond memories of him as a loving father and devoted family man.”
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Rausing 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 (£5.8) billion.
In the 2011 Forbes world fortune ranking, Rausing was placed at number 83 with an estimated fortune of $10 (£8.2) billion.
In 2006 he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his philanthropic activities.
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