Which family has been the controlling shareholder of H&M for much of its history?

The Persson family has been H&M’s controlling shareholder for much of the company’s history.

Erling Persson founded H&M in 1947, and ownership remained strongly associated with his family as the retailer expanded internationally. His son Stefan Persson later became a central figure in the company and served as its chairman.

The family’s influence is exercised through ownership interests and investment entities connected with the Persson family. H&M is publicly listed, so its shares are held by many investors, but the family has remained its dominant shareholder group.

The Perssons are sometimes confused with other prominent Swedish business families, including the Wallenbergs. The Wallenberg family is strongly associated with other major Swedish companies, not with founding H&M.