The Life of Kjell Inge Rokke

Overview

Kjell Inge Rokke is a Norwegian billionaire businessman who is the founder, chairman and majority owner of the Aker Group, a leading industrial investment company in Norway. He is also the largest shareholder of Aker ASA, a conglomerate with interests in several industries including offshore oil and gas, fishing, and shipbuilding. With a net worth of over $5.5 billion, Rokke is considered one of the wealthiest people in Norway and the Nordic region.

Early Life and Education

Kjell Inge Rokke was born on October 25, 1958 in Molde, a town in western Norway. He grew up in a working-class family and dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to work as a fisherman on his father’s boat. However, he later returned to school and completed his high school education.

Rokke began his career in the oil and gas industry, working as a roustabout on Norwegian drilling rigs. He worked his way up the ranks and eventually founded his own offshore drilling company, which he later sold to Aker ASA.

Career and Achievements

Kjell Inge Rokke is best known for founding the Aker Group, which he started in 2004 as a holding company for his industrial investments. The Aker Group consists of several companies, including Aker BP, an oil and gas company; Aker Biomarine, a fishing and seafood company; and Aker Solutions, a provider of engineering and technology services to the energy industry.

Under Rokke’s leadership, the Aker Group has become one of the largest and most successful industrial companies in Norway. He has also been actively involved in various philanthropic and environmental causes, including the establishment of the Research Council of Norway’s Kjell Inge Rokke Program for Young Researchers in the Marine Environment.

In addition to his role as chairman and founder of the Aker Group, Rokke also serves as a member of several boards and committees including the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises.

Personal Life

Kjell Inge Rokke is married with four children and resides in Alesund, Norway. He is known for his passion for sailing and has won several international sailing competitions, including the World Championships in 2005. Rokke is also a philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to various causes, particularly those related to the environment and marine research.

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