Erling Lorentzen

Erling Lorentzen

Erling Sven Lorentzen (born 28 January 1923) is a Norwegian shipowner and industrialist who has lived in Brazil for decades, who founded Aracruz Celulose in 1968 and who was married to Princess Ragnhild of Norway. He is a member of the Lorentzen family of shipping magnates.

He was born in Oslo as the son of Øivind Lorentzen (1881–1980) and Ragna Nilsen (1885–1976). He worked for the Norwegian Independent Company 1, a British military unit, during World War II.

Lorentzen married Princess Ragnhild of Norway, eldest daughter of Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden on 15 May 1953 in Asker, Norway. He is thus the brother-in-law of King Harald V and Princess Astrid of Norway.

They have three children:

• Haakon Lorentzen born 23 August 1954
• Ingeborg Lorentzen born 27 February 1957
• Ragnhild Lorentzen born 8 May 1968

Lorentzen formerly owned 28% of Aracruz Celulose, which he sold for approximately 1.7 billion USD in July 2008.