Thomas Zilliacus Net Worth, Wife, Age, Biography, Family, Children, Career & More

Thomas Zilliacus is a Finnish businessman and philanthropist who resides in Singapore. He has a long and successful career in various fields, especially in the telecommunications industry. He is best known for his role as the former global head of corporate communications and the former regional head of Nokia Asia Pacific Rim, where he helped the company expand its network and market share across Asia.

He is also the founder and chairman of several companies, such as Mobile FutureWorks, NovaM Group, and XXI Century Capital. He has a keen interest in sports and politics and has been involved in several initiatives to promote social causes and democracy.

He was elected twice as a member of the Helsinki City Council, and he recently expressed his interest in buying Manchester United with a fan ownership model. He is a descendant of prominent Finnish figures, such as senator Henrik Wilhelm Johan Zilliacus, who was the mayor of Helsinki in 1866, and Konni Zilliacus, who was the founder of the Finnish Activist Resistance Party that sought to liberate Finland from Russia.

Thomas Zilliacus Net Worth

Zilliacus has an estimated net worth of $500 million as of 2023. He earns most of his income from his investments in mobile technology and media companies.

Zilliacus is not only a successful businessman but also a generous philanthropist. He has donated to various causes, such as education, health, environment, and human rights.

He is especially supportive of his native Finland and has funded several projects and initiatives there. He is also a patron of the arts and culture and has sponsored many events and exhibitions. He owns a car collection that includes some of the most luxurious and rare models in the world, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley.

Buying Inter Milan

There have been speculations that Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus is interested in buying Inter Milan from the current owners Suning. However, Zilliacus has not confirmed nor denied these rumors and instead has expressed his admiration for Inter’s president Steven Zhang and his achievements.

Zilliacus has also urged everyone to focus on supporting Inter in their upcoming Champions League final against Manchester City, rather than distracting them with takeover talks. Zilliacus is not the only potential bidder for Inter, as other investors from Bahrain and Italy have also been linked with the Serie A champions.

Biography (Birthday, Education)

Thomas Zilliacus was born on 15 March 1954 in Helsinki, Finland. His full name is Thomas Henrik Zilliacus. He comes from a prominent family with a history of political and social activism. His great-great-grandfather was Senator Henrik Wilhelm Johan Zilliacus, who was elected Mayor of Helsinki in 1866.

His great-granduncle was Konni Zilliacus, the founder of the Finnish Activist Resistance Party that sought to liberate Finland from Russia. His grand uncle, Per Zilliacus, was the head of the Finnish Military Academy and the Commander of the Finnish Civil Guard.

Zilliacus attended the Zilliacuska skolan, a private Swedish-language school established by his grandfather’s uncle Laurin Zilliacus. He then enrolled at the University of Helsinki and the Hanken School of Economics. He was also a talented football player and spent one season in the youth academy of Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro.

Thomas Zilliacus’ Wife, Marriage & Children

Zilliacus is married to Maria Zilliacus, a Japanese national who works as a fashion designer and consultant. They met in Singapore in 1993 and tied the knot in 2004. They have two daughters, Anna and Sofia, who are both studying in Europe. Zilliacus and his wife share a passion for art, culture, and sports, and often travel together to different countries. They also support various charitable causes, especially those related to education and health.

Zilliacus has described his marriage life as happy and fulfilling, despite the challenges of living on different continents and coping with long Covid. He credits his wife for being his pillar of strength and his source of inspiration. He says that they have a lot of respect and trust for each other and that they always communicate and support each other’s goals and dreams.

Biodata

Career, Nokia, Business

Zilliacus started his career as a journalist and a political activist. He was the editor-in-chief of the national student paper Studentbladet and three times elected as chairman of the Student Union. He also served as a member of the Helsinki City Council from 1979 to 1988.

In 1980, he joined Nokia as the global head of corporate communications. He played a key role in transforming Nokia from a diversified conglomerate into a global leader in telecommunications. In 1986, he moved to Singapore as Nokia’s Asia-Pacific regional head and CEO of Nokia Southeast Asia. He was also chairman of Nokia Malaysia Sdn Bhd. During his tenure, he expanded Nokia’s presence and market share in the region.

In 1993, he left Nokia to pursue his own entrepreneurial ventures. He founded Mobile FutureWorks (MFW), an investment company that focuses on mobile technology and media. He also founded NovaM Group (NVG), a social media group that operates platforms such as YuuZoo and YuuLog. He is currently the chairman of both MFW and NVG.

Zilliacus has also been involved in other projects such as XXI Century Capital (XXI), an investment company that invests in clean energy and biotechnology; Newkia (NK), a smartphone company that aims to create Android phones with Nokia’s design and quality; and Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), an organization that represents the interests of Manchester United fans.

Zilliacus has received several awards and recognitions for his achievements. He was named one of the Top 50 Business Leaders by Asiaweek magazine in 1999; one of the Top 100 Global Leaders by World Economic Forum in 2000; one of the Top 10 Most Influential People by The Straits Times newspaper in 2001; and one of the Top 50 Most Powerful People by The Business Times newspaper in 2002.

Physical Appearance

Zilliacus has a tall and slender physique, with a height of about 1.85 meters and a weight of about 80 kilograms. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and a fair complexion. He usually wears glasses and a suit, giving him a professional and sophisticated appearance. He is fit and active, enjoying sports such as football, tennis, and golf. He has a passion for Brazilian culture and music, having spent some time in Rio de Janeiro as a young football player. He is fluent in several languages, including Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, and Portuguese.

Zilliacus is a respected and influential figure in the business world, as well as a generous and visionary philanthropist. He has expressed interest in buying Manchester United and giving the fans a significant stake in the club. He has also supported various causes and initiatives related to education, health, environment, and human rights.

Some Facts About Thomas Zilliacus

• Thomas Zilliacus went to the Zilliacuska skolan, the Swedish-language, private, co-educational school established by his grandfather’s uncle Laurin Zilliacus.
• He was a promising young football player and spent one season in the youth academy of Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro.
• He graduated from the Hanken School of Economics with a M.S. degree.
• He was the editor-in-chief of the national student paper Studentbladet and three times elected as chairman of the Student Union.
• Thomas was elected as the youngest member of the Helsinki City Council in 1979 and re-elected for a second 4-year period in 1984.
• He became Nokia’s corporate communications global head in 1980 and moved to Singapore as Nokia’s Asia-Pacific regional head and CEO of Nokia SouthEast Asia in 1986. He was also chairman of Nokia Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
• During his time in charge of Nokia’s Asia-Pacific business, the region grew strongly and became the largest source of revenue for Nokia.
• Thomas is the founder and chairman of Mobile FutureWorks, a Singapore-based investment company that focuses on mobile technology and social media ventures.
• He is also the founder and chairman of NovaM Group, a social media group that owns YuuZoo, a global social commerce platform that combines social networking, e-commerce, and gaming.
• He is also the founder and chairman of XXI Century Capital, a private equity fund that invests in clean technology companies.
• Thomas is a philanthropist who supports various causes such as education, health, environment, and human rights. He is a member of the board of trustees of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore and a patron of the Singapore Children’s Society.
• He is an avid collector of art and antiques. He owns one of the largest collections of Chinese porcelain in Southeast Asia and has donated some pieces to museums such as the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore.
• He is a Manchester United fan and has expressed interest in buying the club. He has proposed a fan ownership model where fans would own up to half of United.
• He is married to Christina Zilliacus, a former Miss Finland and Miss Scandinavia. They have three children: Alexander, Sebastian, and Isabella.