Peter Nygård
Peter Nygård
Peter J. Nygård (born 1941) is a Finnish-Canadian fashion executive, founder and chairman of Nygård International, a company based in Winnipeg that makes women's wear. He was rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business Magazine in 2009 with a net worth of $817 million,[1] but he is not shown on the Canadian Business ranking of the 100 wealthiest individuals and families in Canada 2018 list [2]
Early life and education
Tan Jay
On December 1, 1967, Nygård started working as sales manager for a new jeans line of a woman’s clothing manufacturer Jacob Fashions . A few weeks later Nygård used his life savings of $8,000 and an additional loan to purchase 20% of the company from the founder Nathan Jacob. A few years later, Nygård bought the rest of the company from Jacobs daughters and renamed it Tan Jay.[7]
Nygård apparel manufacturing company was founded in 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its Canada headquarters is now in Toronto, Ontario with its world headquarters in Times Square, New York.[8]
Nygård's fashion concept retail store opened in Times Square in Manhattan on Friday, November 6, 2009.
Nygård Cay
In 1987, Nygård built a 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) compound at Lyford Cay in the Bahamas. It was partly destroyed by a fire on November 10, 2009.[9] The Cay is inspired by the Mayan civilization’s architecture. One of the major buildings is a 32,000 ft2 grand-hall with a 100,000 lb glass ceiling.[10]
On April 14, 2010 Peter Nygård announced he was planning a $50 million renovation of Nygård Cay, which would take two years to complete and repair the damage and employ 200 construction workers.[11][12] But a letter from the Bahamian prime minister's office rejected his construction application, citing the improper expansion of his property through intentional accretion of land over the seabed.
On September 28, 2018 Nygård Cay was seized by the Supreme Court of the Bahamas as part of a legal battle surrounding Nygård’s efforts to dredge the sea floor around the estate [13]
Charity
Nygård has supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.[14]
Nygård has been a longtime sponsor of amateur sports in the Bahamas. In June 2010, is the main sponsor of Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas' team for Continental Elite Boxing Championships Invitation only event slated for June 13–19 in Quito, Ecuador.[15] Wellington Miller, the president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, said Nygård has contributed significantly to the Amateur Boxing Association of the Bahamas and their Olympic success.[16]
In April 2011, Nygård held the "2011 National Family Island Regatta" at Nygård Cay, which included a press conference to honor Bahamian musician "King" Eric Gibson.[17][18] In the same month, Nygård also donated $10,000 to Josie Poitier, a member of Old Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, during a Passover/Good Friday Breakfast/Brunch.[19]
Lawsuits
Nygård has been accused of abusive labor practices, tax evasion, sexual harassment and rape.[20]
In 1978, Nygård's takeover of a sportswear designer's business in New York City led to a 12-year legal battle in New York federal court.[20]
In 1980, the Free Press wrote that Nygård was charged with the rape of an 18-year-old girl by Winnipeg authorities. Later those charges were dropped.[20]
Nygård settled sexual harassment complaints by three former employees in Manitoba in the late 1990s.[20]
In 1999, Nygård sued Linda Lampenius for defamation. The case was settled with Lampenius printing an apology in the Finnish press.[20]
In 2003, Nygård was sued in Florida by an American couple who claimed he deceived them into accepting jobs as managers of his Bahamas estate. The case was settled in 2007.[20]
In 2006, Canadian tax authorities claimed Nygård underreported $15 million in taxes. Nygård argued that he severed residential ties with Canada in 1975; he was ultimately subject to taxes on an unreported $2 million.[20]
In 2007 with a bit of irritation over runoff has escalated to a battle royal encompassing no fewer than 16 legal actions between Nygård and Luis Bacon and their associates, in which both sides are claiming damages in the tens of millions of dollars and lobbing allegations of activities that include vandalism, bribery, insider trading, arson, murder, destruction of the fragile seabed, and having a close association with the Ku Klux Klan. Bacon v. Nygard, 150400/2015, New York State Supreme Court, New York County[21]
In 2008, Nygård was sued in Los Angeles Superior Court by a former girlfriend for slamming a door on her hand. Nygård quickly settled the lawsuit.[20]
In 2012, Nygård launched a lawsuit against the CBC regarding copyright issues about private videos taken at his residence, which were then used in an April 2010 documentary.[22][23] He had also launched a copyright complaint with the US District Court in New York[24][25][26] and a lawsuit in Manitoba to prevent the piece from airing.[27] He had previously sued two former employees for releasing confidential information and his lawyer claimed CBC harassed many of the employees.[27] Nygård launched a civil suit against his neighbor and the Lyford Cay Property Owners Association alleging they conspired with the CBC to damage his reputation; he also filed a private criminal prosecution against three CBC journalists accusing them of conspiring to discredit him and his clothing empire.[28][29]
In 2018 Nygård Cay, was seized by the Supreme Court of the Bahamas as part of a legal battle surrounding Nygård’s efforts to dredge the sea floor around the estate.[30]
In 2019, The warrant was issued after Nygård failed to appear in court multiple times for a sentencing hearing related to two contempt of court convictions in the Bahamas [31]
In September 2019, the New York Times was caught up in the feud between Peter Nygard and Louis Bacon [32]
Personal life
Nygård currently lives in Nassau, Bahamas.
He dated Anna Nicole Smith for several years.[35]
He fathered a son, Xar, with former model Freya.[37]
Aircraft
Nygård owns the following Aircraft
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Notes | Serial | First Flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 727-017 | 1 | VP-BPZ [38] | 20327 | 26 February 1970 |
| Boeing 727-2N6 | 1 | N727PN [39] | 22825 | 04 June 1982 |