Fredrik Olsen

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Fredrik Olsen
Born	January 1, 1929
Occupation	Businessman

Fredrik Olsen or Fred. Olsen (born January 1, 1929 is a Norwegian shipping magnate and Chairman of the companies in the Fred. Olsen Group. He is the fourth generation running the Fred. Olsen Group, founded by his great grandfather Petter Olsen and named after his grandfather Thomas Fredrik Olsen. Though he remains the chairman of the companies, ownership and CEO functions are retained by his daughter Anette S. Olsen. In addition to his jobs within the Fred. Olsen group he was for a period also chairman of the Aker Group.

Fred. Olsen has been called "The Norwegian Howard Hughes" for his great wealth and avoidance of publicity; although a recluse he is also reputed to be the inspiration for the look of The Simpsons cartoon character Montgomery Burns ^[1].

It was announced on January 3, 2006, that Fred Olsen was to sell almost his entire collection of Edvard Munch paintings, through Sotheby's on February 7, estimated to be worth around NOK 100 million. Fred. Olsen has previously been and has been involved in a legal process against his brother, Petter Olsen, concerning the important Munch collection brought together by their father Thomas Olsen; according to the will of their mother Henriette Olsen, they were to be left to the younger son. Fred Olsen disputed the will but lost the case in the Oslo District Court in 2001.