Hans Kristian Rausing Explained

Hans Kristian Rausing
Birth Date:15 June 1963
Birth Place:Lund, Sweden
Known For:Tetra Pak shareholding
Occupation:Philanthropist
Spouses:

    Hans Kristian Rausing (in Swedish pronounced as /hɑːns ˈkrɪ̌sːtɪjan ˈrâʊsɪŋ/; born 15 June 1963) is a Swedish billionaire and the son of packaging industrialist Hans Rausing. His grandfather Ruben Rausing founded the food-packaging giant Tetra Pak. The family has an estimated $12 billion fortune.[1] [2]

    Rausing did not enter the family business. Instead, he travelled in his youth before meeting Eva Kemeny while in drug rehabilitation in the United States. On 16 October 1992, the couple married. In common with other members of the Rausing family, they settled in London (and Barbados), and donated millions of pounds to charities, in particular those concerned with drug awareness and addiction prevention.[3] They built and funded a rehabilitation centre on the Caribbean island of Barbados.[4]

    In April 2008, Rausing and his wife were arrested on drugs charges after Mrs Rausing allegedly tried to take small amounts of crack cocaine and heroin into the United States embassy in London. Quantities of crack cocaine and heroin were then found in their home.[5] They were charged with possession of a large amount of cocaine and smaller quantities of crack, heroin and cannabis after a Scotland Yard investigation. They admitted possessing Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) and received a police caution.[6]

    On 10 July 2012 Rausing was arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs, after which his wife Eva Rausing was found dead at the couple's Belgravia home.[7] Rausing failed to report his wife's death for two months. On 17 July 2012, he was charged with delaying burial of her body.[8] He pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence. The couple had four children.

    He married art expert Julia Delves Broughton, daughter of Sir Evelyn Delves Broughton, 12th Bt and sister of Isabella Blow, in June 2014.[9] [10] Together they set up the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, which gives away around GBP 50 million each year, making it one of the largest philanthropic funds in the UK.[10] The trust has supported charities like the Trussell Trust and FareShare.[11] Julia Rausing died on 18 April 2024, aged 63.[10]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Hans Rausing & family. 2020-07-18. Forbes. en.
    2. Web site: Rausing hoppade av och försökte köpa veckotidningsförlag . . 23 August 2008 . Swedish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100423064148/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/lund/article360335/Rausing-hoppade-av-och-forsokte-kopa-veckotidningsforlag.html . 23 April 2010.
    3. Web site: Miljardär - och fast i drogerna . . 27 April 2008 . Swedish.
    4. Web site: Dark Side of Paradise... . 13 July 2012 . English . Evening Standard.
    5. News: Dodd. Vikram. correspondent. crime. 2008-04-10. Heir's wife held after 'drugs trip to US embassy'. en-GB. The Guardian. 2020-07-18. 0261-3077.
    6. News: Correspondent. Richard Edwards, Crime. 2008-07-29. Tetra Pak heir Hans Kristian Rausing admits possessing cocaine and heroin. Daily Telegraph. en-GB. 2020-07-18. 0307-1235.
    7. News: Billionaire Hans Kristian Rausing arrested after wife's body found in London home . Martin Evans . Donna Bowater . Duncan Gardham . The Daily Telegraph. 10 July 2012 . 11 July 2012.
    8. News: Eva Rausing death: Husband charged with burial delay. BBC News. 17 July 2012 . 17 July 2012.
    9. Web site: Så lever rika svenskar lyxliv i London. 2020-07-18. expressen.se. 12 August 2014 . sv.
    10. Web site: Lake . Howard . 2024-04-18 . Philanthropist Julia Rausing dies at 63 . 2024-04-24 . UK Fundraising . en.
    11. Web site: May . Melanie . 2022-11-17 . Rausings launch £3.5mn fund to support food banks . 2024-04-24 . UK Fundraising . en.