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IKEA, with its massive global footprint, stands out as a company capable of remarkable growth while consistently keeping prices low relative to inflation. In fiscal year 2025, IKEA reported staggering total revenue of over $51.213 billion.
Despite the pressures of inflation that challenge all companies, IKEA’s eccentric leadership team leads by example, steering the company through turbulent economic waters.
IKEA’s founder and former CEO, Ingvar Kamprad, was renowned for his extreme frugality. He bought clothes from flea markets, recycled tea bags, and got cheap haircuts.
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Like Warren Buffett and other famously frugal billionaires, Kamprad lived modestly, epitomizing thriftiness even as his company scaled new heights.
Kamprad passed away at 91 in 2018, but his legacy of cost-saving hacks continues to influence IKEA. Here’s what everyday investors can learn from his unique approach to business and personal finance.
Time-tested alternative assets
Most billionaires, like Kamprad, built their long-term wealth by excelling at one major endeavor. But diversifying assets is equally important. Kamprad famously set up a complex tax structure to ensure his children wouldn’t face heavy taxes on his IKEA corporate stake.
Although we may not have access to the same legal and financial experts as these billionaires, numerous platforms now make diversification much more accessible.
Real estate has long been considered one of the most reliable ways to hedge against inflation and build long-lasting wealth.
You can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
For years, direct access to the $22.5 trillion commercial real estate sector has been limited to a select group of elite investors — until now.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)
For savvy investors who are looking to frugally diversify their portfolio, fine art is a creative alternative to the ups and downs of the stock market.
With $60 billion in annual transaction volume and a total estimated global value of $1.7 trillion, art represents a massive asset class. In the past, you had to be ultra wealthy to invest in art, and there was no way to start unless you had the millions it takes to buy a painting at an auction.
But Masterworks has completely changed that.
Masterworks, a revolutionary investment platform, has now made it possible for more investors to access this prized asset. Instead of buying a single painting for millions of dollars, you can now invest in fractional shares of iconic works from renowned blue-chip artists like Pablo Picasso, Basquiat and Banksy.
All you have to do is select how many shares you want to buy and Masterworks will take care of the rest — making elite art investments accessible and hassle-free.
See important Regulation A disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.