Per Holknekt Biography: Parents, Height, Ethnicity, Siblings, Net Worth, Age, Child, Wife

Olof Holknekt is a Swedish fashion designer, serial entrepreneur, and motivational speaker whose tumultuous life story spans professional skateboarding, addiction, homelessness, and remarkable business success.

Best known for co-founding the international clothing brand Odd Molly with Karin Jimfelt-Ghatan in 2002, he was named “Founder of the Year” at Sweden’s Entreprenörsgalan in 2010.

Having launched over 39 companies, including Transworld Skateboarding and Svea, Holknekt’s journey from losing everything to building a fashion empire embodies resilience.  

Profile

• Full Name: Per Olof Holknekt
• Stage Name: Per Holknekt
• Born: April 27, 1960
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: Falun, Dalarna, Sweden
• Nationality: Swedish
• Occupation: Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Consultant, Former Skateboarder
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Olle Holknekt, Bernice Holknekt
• Siblings: Thomas Holknekt
• Spouse: Unnamed American woman (m. 1980s–? ); Viktoria Tolstoy (m. 2001–2008); Lena Philipsson (m. 2010–2013)
• Partner: Anna Lundell (2015–present, status unclear)
• Children: Julia Holknekt
• Relationship: Unknown
• Net Worth: $1–6 million USD

Early Life and Education

Per Holknekt was born on April 27, 1960, in Falun, Dalarna, Sweden, to a police officer father, Olle Holknekt, and  Bernice Holknekt, a school principal. Growing up with his brother Thomas, he developed an early interest in skateboarding.

At 20, he moved to Hermosa Beach, California, in 1980, where he became a professional skateboarder, winning several international competitions. In 1984, he founded Transworld Skateboarding magazine while still in California.

Returning to Sweden later that year, he studied economics at IHM Business School, laying the groundwork for his entrepreneurial career. His ethnicity is Swedish, and his religion is not publicly known.

Career

Holknekt’s entrepreneurial journey began with the skateboard company Street Style, which he co-founded with his brother Thomas in Sweden in 1984. He later launched Svea, a skateboard and clothing brand that blended his passion for subculture and fashion.

In the 1990s, his ventures faced setbacks as he battled drug and alcohol addiction, culminating in a life crisis in 2000. Homeless and selling Stockholm’s street newspaper Situation Sthlm, he sought treatment, achieving sobriety.

Just four months sober, he joined the first season of Swedish Big Brother on Kanal 5, finishing second after 74 days, regaining public visibility. In 2002, Holknekt partnered with Karin Jimfelt-Ghatan to launch Odd Molly, a women’s clothing brand embracing imperfection and bohemian aesthetics.

The company, listed on Nasdaq, achieved significant success, posting $36.41 million in revenue in Q4 2020. In 2010, Holknekt and Jimfelt-Ghatan were named “Founders of the Year” at Entreprenörsgalan. He left Odd Molly in 2013 after 12 years to pursue a branding consultancy, working with various companies.

His magazine Miss World, launched in 2012, folded after two issues. Holknekt hosted Sveriges Radio’s Sommar in 2010 and published his autobiography, Per Holknekt 1960–2014, co-written with Markus Lutteman, in 2014.

A prolific entrepreneur, Holknekt has founded 39 companies, including TIDLÖS, a Swiss-made watch brand reflecting Scandinavian minimalism, where he joined the board, impressed by its vision.

In 2017, he trademarked “covfefe” after Donald Trump’s viral tweet, showcasing his knack for opportunistic branding. Named Digital Influencer of the Year in Sweden in 2017, he is a sought-after speaker, nominated for Speaker of the Year in the same year. He delivers talks on resilience and innovation at events such as TEDxMalmö.

His 2021 podcast appearance on BEHIND THE BRANDS discussed his 42nd venture, focusing on sustainability and social welfare. However, recent X posts suggest ongoing challenges, including a 2025 lawsuit against the Swedish state over gambling losses, following a failed 2022 suit against Kindred Group for SEK 10 million.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @perholknekt
• Facebook Handle: Per Holknekt

Personal Life

Highs and lows have marked Holknekt’s personal life. Married to an American woman for three years in the 1980s, he later had a daughter named Julia Holknektin with a Swedish partner.

During his time on Big Brother in 2000, he met singer Viktoria Tolstoy, whom he married in 2001; they divorced in 2008. He married singer Lena Philipsson in 2010, but they divorced in 2013. In 2015, he began a relationship with fashion photographer Anna Lundell, though their current status is unclear.

Net Worth

Per Holknekt has an estimated net worth of $1 million to $ 6 million USD. His wealth primarily stems from the success of Odd Molly, which went public with a valuation of SEK 1 billion, and other ventures like Svea and Transworld Skateboarding.

Income from branding consultancy, speaking engagements, and his autobiography contributes, though significant gambling losses (SEK 55 million total) and legal battles have impacted his finances.