Taking the green road to growth

Though he has amassed a fortune of over $5.3 billion, he still remains down to earth. "I don't have any special feeling to be called Norway's richest man. My four children are my prized possession," he said.

"One of the things that I have noticed is that nowadays people have far too many vacations and work less. My motto has always been to work hard so that I can be better than average and continue to have the drive to achieve something," he said.

Q&A | Steinerik Hagen

How do you spend your weekend amid your busy schedule?

I spend my weekend with my family.

What are your hobbies?

Collecting art is my favorite hobby.

Who is your icon?

The late South African leader Nelson Mandela is someone who has really inspired me.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

"Perfect happiness is that when you wake up every morning, you can stand on both your feet and you look forward to work."

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is that people spend a lot of time arguing.

What are the qualities that you admire most in a man and a woman?

Honesty is the most important trait that I would look for in a man, while in the case of a woman it would be beauty.

What do you value the most in your friends?

Loyalty.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

That's hard to say. I would consider my family and four happy children as the greatest achievement. To some extent, that is also why I try to spend a lot of time with them.

What are your most treasured possessions?

I am not that interested in material things. I think the most treasured possession is a happy life.

What kind of "green" lifestyle do you follow?

I walk, cycle and also use an electric car.

dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn

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