Ingvar Kamprad, founder of the world's largest furniture retailer Ikea, died Saturday aged 91.
He passed away silently, following a short illness.
Kamprad is considered to be one of Swedens most successful entrepreneurs ever.
"It's sad when your father's gone", says his adopted daughter Annika Kihlblom, 59.
Ingvar Kamprad.
Foto: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP
The news that Kamprad is dead was first published in the Swedish newspaper Dagens industri. Ikea published a tweet Sunday, confirming his death:
"Ingvar Kamprad has silently passed away in his home in (the Swedish region) Småland. He was born in Småland 1926 and 17 years old he founded Ikea. Ingvar will be missed and fondly remembered by his family and Ikea co-workers all over the world."
READ MORE: Ikeas grundare Ingvar Kamprad död
In a press release, Ikea announces that the Swedish entrepreneur died "surrounded by his loved ones (...) following a short illness".
Ikea was the business that became his lifelong commitment. Torbjörn Lööf, CEO and President of Inter IKEA Group, says:
"We are deeply saddened by Ingvar’s passing. We will remember his dedication and commitment to always side with the many people. To never give up, always try to become better and lead by example."
"Great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind"
Ingvar Kamprad is described as "a great entrepreneur of the typical southern Swedish kind - hardworking and stubborn, with a lot of warmth and a playful twinkle in his eye. He worked until the very end of his life, staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done."
Since 1988 Ingvar Kamprad had the role of senior advisor.
Göran Grosskopf, advisor to the Kamprad family, says he feels "a great emptiness". According to Grosskopf, Kamprads sons are at his farm in Småland.
Swedish prime minister, Social democrat Stefan Löfven, says in a statement:
"I think especially of his family and friends today. Ingvar Kamprad was a unique entrepreneur who has meant a lot to Swedish enterprise and who has made home decoration available to the majority of the people, not just a few."
Adopted daughter will not get anything from Ikea
Ingvar Kamprad was first married to Kerstin Wadling. The couple never had any children of their own, but they adopted a daughter, Annika Kihlblom, who is now 59 years old.
When Ingvar Kamprad married Margaretha Stennert and got the sons Peter, Mathias and Jonas, he later made an economic deal with the adoptive daughter.
She will not inherit anything from Ikea. On the other hand, according to Swedish inheritance law, she will, together with her brothers, take part of her father's private assets, estimated in 2013 at SEK 750 million.
But unlike her brothers, she gets no more. Annika Kihlblom has in earlier interviews said that she is satisfied with the deal. After Kamprad's death, she tells Expressen that she had a good relation with her father.
"We had a good relationship, but it was about a year since we met. It's sad when your father's gone."
The brothers Peter, Mathias and Jonas are multi billionaires and will continue to control Ikea through the Group's foundations.