Quick Facts
Biography
Frank Hasenfratz, CM (born 1935) is a Hungarian-born Canadian billionaire businessman, the founder and owner of the car parts maker Linamar.
Early life
Hasenfratz was born in 1935 in Szár, Hungary. He left Hungary in May 1957 and arrived in Quebec City, Canada, after the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Career
He started a one-man machine shop in his basement in 1964, and then incorporated in 1966under the name Linamar after his two daughters Linda (current Linamar CEO), Nancy and his wife Margaret.
As of 2015, the company now employed 19,000 people at 45 plants, and it is from Hasenfratz's 23.6% stake in the company, plus share sales, dividends, and other asset groupings that he had a net worth of approximately $1 billion.
Honours
In 2014, he was made a member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to Canada’s manufacturing industry and for his philanthropic initiatives".
Personal life
Hasenfratz is married to Margaret. They have two daughters, Linda and Nancy, and live in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.