Tom Wilhelmsen (shipping magnate)


Thomas "Tom" Wilhelmsen was a Norwegian shipping magnate and the main owner of Norway's largest shipping company, Wilh. Wilhelmsen. He was also a noted philanthropist.
He was a son of ship-owner Wilhelm Wilhelmsen and a grandson of ship-owner Wilhelm Wilhelmsen, who started the Wilh. Wilhelmsen company in 1861. After completing his education, he joined the family company in the early 1930s, and worked in Paris, Dunkerque, London, Antwerp and Hamburg. In 1938 he became a partner in the company. He was a member of several governmental committees. He was also the honorary consul-general in Norway for Apartheid-era South Africa.
In 1965 he founded the Tom Wilhelmsen Foundation, which awards the Tom Wilhelmsen Opera and Ballet Prize. He was married to Valborg Cecilie Dedekam, and was the father of Wilhelm Wilhelmsen, Finn Wilhelmsen, Cecilie Paus and Helen Juell, who became owners of the family firm, Wilh. Wilhelmsen, on their father's death in 1978.
The philanthropic Tom Wilhelmsen Foundation and the Tom Wilhelmsen Opera and Ballet Prize are named in his honour. He received Norway's highest honour, the Order of St. Olav, in 1975.

Honours