TRAILBLAZER
The Billionaire Behind Klarna .
FROM GRINDING POVERTY TO BILLIONAIRE STATUS BY THE TIME HE HIT 40 , SEBASTIAN SIEMIATKOWSKI IS THE ULTIMATE RAGS-TO-RICHES SUCCESS STORY
Sebastian Siemiatkowski is the angel investor , entrepreneur , and European businessman who currently serves as the CEO of Klarna . He is viewed as a role model and inspiration to young entrepreneurs and has , along with Klarna ’ s co-founders , redefined the Buy Now Play Later space during his 18-year career in fintech .
However , his early life was beset with difficulties , and although his parents worked hard to provide for him , earlier traumas meant life was not always a smooth ride for the young Siemiatkowski .
POVERTY IN CHILDHOOD Born in Sweden in 1981 and the son of Polish immigrants , his parents were academics who had fled the USSR communist regime for Sweden just 12 months earlier in 1980 . But those early years were beset with heartache because the couple had been forced to leave Sebastian ’ s older sister - their then baby daughter behind in Poland .
The process to bring her back to the family was a difficult one , and both Siemiatkowski ’ s mother and father also discovered their successful careers in academia could not be replicated in their new homeland .
As a result , money was tight and his mother also suffered from debilitating back problems which meant she had to retire early . Siemiatkowski ’ s father , who struggled with alcoholism , drove a taxi to make ends meet - but food for the young family was worryingly scarce .
Today , with his personal fortune exceeding an estimated US $ 2.2bn , Siemiatkowski , still recalls what is was like to feel hungry . He says meals in his childhood often meant pancakes , and in a recent interview with the WSJ , explained , “ As a kid , I thought that was amazing , but now I realise it ’ s because we had nothing at home but flour , eggs , and milk .”
OVERCOMING THE ODDS But despite these hardships , Siemiatkowski proved himself to be a talented and hardworking student . After completing his high school requirements , he enrolled at the Stockholm School of Economics .
The environment led him to become inspired by fintech , and he joined forces with the company ’ s other co-founders ,
18 April 2022