Kreuger, Ivar (1880-1932)

Swedish industrialist and financier. The founder of the Swedish Match Trust, which gained a virtual international monopoly of matchmaking, he became popularly known as the ‘Match King’. However, during the Great Depression, Kreuger's concerns suffered grave financial loss, and he committed suicide. After his death, it emerged that he had built up his empire by the use of fraud and forgery, and many of his business interests went bankrupt.

Krueger was born in Kalmar. He worked abroad in America and South Africa before returning to Sweden. He built up a powerful network of business and political contacts, and exerted great influence over a number of European governments.