Arne Næss Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arne Næss Jr.
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|---|---|
| Born |
Arne Rudolf Ludvig Raab
December 8, 1937 |
| Died | January 13, 2004 (aged 66) Groot Drakenstein Mountains, Franschhoek, South Africa
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Camilla Astrup |
| Children | 7; including Leona Naess and Evan Ross |
| Relatives | Arne Næss (uncle) |
Arne Næss Jr. (born Arne Rudolf Ludvig Raab; December 8, 1937 – January 13, 2004) was a famous Norwegian businessman. He was also known for being married to the singer Diana Ross.
Early Life
Arne Næss Jr. was born in Germany in 1937. His father was a German doctor, and his mother, Kirsten Næss, was Norwegian. His great-uncle was the famous philosopher and mountaineer Arne Næss.
Arne's family lived in Germany during World War II. After the war, his parents divorced. Arne and his mother moved to Norway. They both decided to use his mother's maiden name, Næss.
A Life in Business
In 1964, Arne Næss Jr. moved to New York City. He started working for his uncle, Erling Dekke Næss, who was a very successful businessman in shipping.
Arne then started his own business in London in 1968. He became very successful in shipping, oil, and real estate. He made smart investments, especially in an IT company called Tandberg Data. He also invested in real estate around the world.
By the time he passed away in 2004, Arne Næss Jr.'s businesses were worth a lot of money, estimated to be around $600 million. He spent his last years living in Switzerland.
Mountain Climbing Adventures
Arne Næss Jr. loved mountains from a young age. By the time he was 19, he had already climbed many Norwegian mountains for the first time. This means he was the first person to reach their tops!
In the 1970s, he returned to his passion for mountain climbing. In 1985, he led the first Norwegian team to climb Mount Everest. This is the world's highest mountain. The famous British climber Chris Bonington was also part of this expedition.
Arne Næss Jr. once said about the risks of climbing, "If I hadn't liked risks, I would rather have played tennis or golf." This shows how much he enjoyed the challenge of mountaineering.
Family Life
In 1966, Arne Næss Jr. married Filippa Kumlin d'Orey from Sweden. They had three children: a son named Christoffer, and two daughters, Katinka and Leona Naess. Leona later became a folk pop singer.
After his first marriage ended, Arne met the American singer Diana Ross in 1985. They got married in 1986. Together, they had two sons: Ross Arne Næss and Evan Olav Næss. Arne also became a stepfather to Diana's three daughters from her previous relationships: Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Chudney Ross, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Arne and Diana divorced in 2000. For his last four years, Arne was with Camilla Astrup. They had two sons, Nicklas and Louis.
Passing Away
On January 13, 2004, Arne Næss Jr. was visiting a friend in South Africa. He sadly died in a climbing accident. He was climbing in the Groot Drakenstein mountains near Franschhoek.
Police reports said that his climbing gear came loose from the mountainside. He fell about 103 meters (around 338 feet). Arne Næss Jr. was 66 years old when he passed away.
In May 2004, after his death, Arne Næss Jr. was given the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized his amazing achievements in sports and life.
