Kristiansen is the chairman of Lego, Europe's largest toymaker. The Billund, Denmark-based company reported revenue of more than 74.3 billion Danish Krone ($10.8 billion) in 2024. He holds his stake through family investment vehicle Kirkbi, which also owns half of theme park operator Merlin Entertainments Group.
The majority of Kristiansen's fortune is derived from his 18.8% economic interest in Lego, Europe's largest toymaker. His stake in the closely held company is controlled through Kirkbi, a Billund, Denmark-based holding company.
Kirkbi owns 75% of Lego, according to its 2024 annual report. Kristiansen, his father, Kjeld Kristiansen, and his two siblings each owned 25% of Kirkbi, according to the group's spokeswoman, Ulla Lundhus. Sofie's shareholding in Kirkbi was reduced to 23% in this analysis based on a November 2023 report. The sale resulted in an equivalent increase to the shareholding of her family members, according to the report.
Lego had revenue of 74.3 billion Danish Krone ($10.8 billion) in 2024, according to its annual report. Its valuation is based on the enterprise value-to-sales multiple of one peer: Hasbro.
Kirkbi also half of Merlin Entertainments Group, according to a June 2019 press release announcing Kirkbi's involvement in the privatization of Merlin. Kirkbi's public holdings include ISS and Nilfisk Holding.
Kristiansen receives licensing fees and dividends from Lego, as disclosed in Kirkbi's annual reports. The value of his cash holdings and closely held investments is based on an analysis of dividends, insider transactions, taxes and charitable contributions. His liabilities include his share of Kirkbi's debt to Lego, as detailed in the 2024 annual report.
Louise Klinge, a spokesperson for Kirkbi, didn't respond to a request for comment on the net worth calculation.
Thomas Kirk Kristiansen was born in 1979, the great-grandson of Ole Kirk Kristiansen, who founded toymaker Lego in 1932. The Billund, Denmark-based company produces more than 60 billion of its bricks annually. Father Kjeld ran the company for 25 years beginning in 1979 and built it into a global brand, which involved an expansion into Legoland themeparks in the 1990s and adding operations in the UK, Germany and the US.
In the early 2000s, disappointing sales and competition from Hasbro and Mega Bloks saw Lego post its third annual loss in five years. Kristiansen began to implement a turnaround plan, shedding 1,000 jobs and pruning product lines, before stepping aside in 2004.
The company sold its 70% economic interest in its theme park business to private equity firm Blackstone in 2005. Kirkbi took an initial 15% stake in the newly formed Merlin Entertainments Group, which was increased to 36% in 2010. The company listed on the London Stock Exchange in November 2013. Kirkbi retains a 30% stake.
Kjeld Kristiansen served as first deputy chairman of Lego until April 2016, when he said that Thomas would succeed him in the role as the first step towards a "smooth generational handover." Thomas also assumed his father's position as chairman of The Lego Foundation, which owns 25% of the toymaker.
The billionaire lives in Denmark.