Ingvar Kamprad, a dyslexic boy who registered his mail order household goods business called Ikea at age 17, died on Saturday at his home in Smaland, Sweden. He was 91.
Kamprad built a fabled reputation for frugality–as The New York Times points out, he was known for driving a modest Volvo and flying economy class, even arriving at a farmer’s market late to get the best deals on vegetables. He reportedly wore second-hand clothing and often ate at the Ikea cafe. Of course, that was only part of the story–perhaps even an ingenious PR play. His multimillion-dollar home overlooked Lake Geneva, he also drove a Porsche, and owned vineyards in Provence. He was also criticized in his time for tax dodging, and indeed, Ikea is run as a nonprofit even today.
However, it was Kamprad’s uncovered ties to the fascist movement that garnered the most criticism. After the death of Swedish fascist Per Engdahl, reporters discovered that Kamprad had recruited and fundraised for the Swedish Nazi movement–and he continued to be friends with Engdahl after the movement ended in 1942. He would go on to call his involvement something that he “bitterly” regretted and “the greatest mistake” of his life.
As for Ikea, it will almost certainly continue to grow in Kamprad’s absence. The company plans to nearly double its earnings by 2020.