Ivar Kreuger (2 March 1880 – 12 March 1932) was a Swedish civil engineer, financier, entrepreneur and industrialist. In 1908, he co-founded the construction company Kreuger & Toll Byggnads AB, which specialized in new building techniques. By aggressive investments and innovative financial instruments, he built a global match and financial empire. Between the two world wars, he negotiated match monopolies with European, Central American and South American governments, and finally controlled between two thirds and three quarters of worldwide match production, becoming known as the "Match King".Kreuger's financial empire has been described by one biographer as a Ponzi scheme, based on the supposedly fantastic profitability of his match monopolies. However, in a Ponzi scheme early investors are paid dividends from their own money or that of subsequent investors. Although Kreuger did this to some extent, he also controlled many legitimate and often very profitable businesses, and owned banks, real estate, a gold mine, and pulp and industrial companies, besides his many match companies. Many of them have survived to this day. Kreuger & Toll, for example, was composed of bona fide businesses, and there were others like it. Another biographer called Kreuger a "genius and swindler", and John Kenneth Galbraith wrote that he was the "Leonardo of larcenists". Kreuger's financial empire collapsed during the Great Depression. The Price Waterhouse autopsy of his financial empire stated: "The manipulations were so childish that anyone with but a rudimentary knowledge of bookkeeping could see the books were falsified." In March 1932, he was found dead in the bedroom of his flat in Paris. The police concluded that he had committed suicide, but decades later, his brother Torsten claimed that he had been murdered, which spawned some controversial literature on the subject.
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Some of their strengths
Ivar Kreuger has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Intuitive, Passionate, Generous, Confident, Artistic, Soulful, and Understanding.
Soulful and Understanding
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Ivar Kreuger is someone who is a soulful, understanding, and conscious person, who combines smarts with a deep talent for creativity and imagination. A person who is known for being a good communicator.
Constant and Serious
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Ivar Kreuger well know them as someone who can be determined, unmoving, and firm, like a rock or a high mountain.
Organized and Achievement-oriented
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Ivar Kreuger as someone who is organized, goal-oriented, practical, and persevering.
Who is hardworking, intellectual, and easygoing, who loves higher education and learning and sharing ideas with others, and who loves healthy competition.
Intelligent and Leadership-oriented
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Ivar Kreuger is someone who is able to see things that others don't, and who can be an effective guide or mentor to others.
They are also someone who is confident and creative, and who has a love for starting new projects, inventing new things, and giving back to the community.
Creative and Imaginative
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Ivar Kreuger tends to be someone who is sensitive, imaginative, creative, and somewhat of a dreamer. Who is intuitive and compassionate, and who has a friendly, easygoing, calming and relaxing effect on people and for whom friends and family mean the world.
Some of Ivar Kreuger's challenges
While Ivar Kreuger has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Ivar Kreuger can be Unrealistic, Indecisive, Complicated, Brusque, Suspicious, Stubborn, and Callous.
Indecisive and Unrealistic
One of Ivar Kreuger's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as indecisive and unrealistic.
Ivar Kreuger must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Callous and Selfish
Ivar Kreuger is someone who can be standoffish, pessimistic, and ruthless, who can have difficulty concentrating and be impatient, can have difficulty discovering the keys to personal contentment, and who can have a tendency to overwork and hoard wealth and possessions.
Lethargic and Unrealistic
Finally, Ivar Kreuger also can be too soft, lazy and lethargic, and who can have difficulty finding others who share a similarly dreamy outlook on life.
