It’s difficult to put an exact figure on deceased shipping magnate Mærsk McKinney Møller’s wealth, but what’s indisputable is that he was Denmark’s richest man - by far - and his immediate heirs are set to share stocks and shares, property, boats , and works of art worth billions of kroner.
Despite his massive wealth, the deceased shipping magnate never figured prominently on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest due to a great deal of his estimated DKK125bn ($21.2bn) fortune being stashed away in the Mærsk Family Foundation, which retains a 54% majority shareholding in the A.P. Møller-Mærsk (APM) group. Although this is protected and doesn’t form part of his estate, there’s little chance of his three daughters, Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla, Kirsten Mærsk Mc-Kinney Olufsen, and Leise Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, going hungry in the near future.
In addition to the foundation, Mr McKinney Møller privately owned 3.7 per cent of all shares in APM, valued at around DKK7bn ($1.2bn) and owned houses in Copenhagen, the French Riveria, and a country estate in Lolland, Denmark. One of his prized possessions was a DKK60m ($10.2m), 82 foot yacht, one of the biggest in Denmark, and although the details of his private art collection have never been made public, it’s believed to contain works by Picasso, Matisse, and Delacroix.
The Danish state will also receive a very healthy sum in death duties. The three daughters will be required to pay 15 per cent inheritance tax on their father’s estimated private holdings of around DKK20bn, providing a DKK3bn ($550m) windfall for the taxman.