Arne Wilhelmsen

Arne Wilhelmsen, a founder of Royal Caribbean Cruises and a member of its board of directors for more than 30 years, died Saturday April 11 2020 in Palma, Spain. He was 90. Born on June 15, 1929, in Oslo, Norway, Wilhelmsen earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and worked as a chartering assistant for Norway's EB Lund & Co. and later as a shipbroker in New York, according to Royal Caribbean. He joined his family business -- Anders Wilhelmsen & Co AS -- in 1954, before becoming its president in 1961. Wilhelmson retired more than a decade ago, with his son Alex taking his place on the Royal Caribbean board of directors in 2003. Harvard graduate and cofounder of Royal Caribbean, whose stock nearly doubled in value over last year. Pocketed at least $500 million in 2008 when China Oilfield Services acquired all of Awilco Offshore, including his 40% stake, for $2.5 billion. Chairs the family investment company, with stakes in oil tankers, Russian hotels and Baltic shopping centers. Also owns private Norwegian real estate outfit Linstow.