Carl Stefan Erling Persson is a Swedish businessman, the billionaire Patriarch and former Chairman of Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) (STO: HM B), the global fast-fashion and apparel retail giant. His colossal wealth is generational, tied to the retail empire founded by his father, Erling Persson, in 1947.

Persson's philosophical approach centers on generational stewardship, scale, long-term brand preservation, and vertical integration in the essential fast-fashion retail sector. He successfully led the company's transformation into a global phenomenon and pioneered its expansion into new international markets.

• H&M (Patriarch & Major Shareholder): The core publicly traded asset, the global fast-fashion leader (operating thousands of stores worldwide).
• Retail Focus: His success is built on scale retail and dominating the domestic and international market for affordable, trendy apparel (pioneering the fast-fashion model).
• Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in retail real estate (owning substantial property holdings) and brand IP.
• Family Governance: He served as CEO (1982–1998) and Chairman (1998–2020), transferring the chairmanship to his son, Karl-Johan Persson.

Stefan Persson's strategic leadership guided H&M's transformation into a global market leader. He assumed the CEO role and later the Chairman role, successfully guiding the company's commitment to scale manufacturing, rapid inventory turnover, and aggressive international expansion. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern fast-fashion retail model globally and establishing H&M as a world-renowned brand.

He stepped down as Chairman in 2020 (remaining the largest shareholder) to focus on governance and his private investments. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global retail, fashion, and consumer goods sectors.

Stefan Persson's social impact stems from H&M's role as a massive global employer and provider of affordable apparel, significantly influencing global consumer fashion trends. The H&M Foundation supports initiatives in education, clean water, and sustainable development globally, with a focus on improving social and environmental standards in the fashion industry supply chain.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Stefan Persson maintains the professional, composed style of a corporate executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the global retail sector.

Residing in Stockholm, Sweden, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to corporate governance, strategic investment, and the long-term stewardship of the H&M empire.