Hans Kristian Rausing

Hans Kristian Rausing
Born (1963-06-15) 15 June 1963 (age 61)
Lund, Sweden
OccupationPhilanthropist
Known forTetra Pak shareholding & opiod addiction
Spouses
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(m. 1992; died 2012)​
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(m. 2014; died 2024)​
Parents
Relatives

Hans Kristian Rausing (Swedish pronunciation: [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]

  1. ^ "Hans Rausing & family". Forbes. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Rausing hoppade av och försökte köpa veckotidningsförlag" (in Swedish). Sydsvenskan. 23 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Miljardär - och fast i drogerna" (in Swedish). Expressen. 27 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Dark Side of Paradise..." Evening Standard. 13 July 2012.
  5. ^ Dodd, Vikram; correspondent, crime (10 April 2008). "Heir's wife held after 'drugs trip to US embassy'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 July 2020. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Correspondent, Richard Edwards, Crime (29 July 2008). "Tetra Pak heir Hans Kristian Rausing admits possessing cocaine and heroin". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 July 2020. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Martin Evans; Donna Bowater; Duncan Gardham (10 July 2012). "Billionaire Hans Kristian Rausing arrested after wife's body found in London home". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Eva Rausing death: Husband charged with burial delay". BBC News. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Så lever rika svenskar lyxliv i London". expressen.se (in Swedish). 12 August 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Lake, Howard (18 April 2024). "Philanthropist Julia Rausing dies at 63". UK Fundraising. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  11. ^ May, Melanie (17 November 2022). "Rausings launch £3.5mn fund to support food banks". UK Fundraising. Retrieved 24 April 2024.