Peter J. Nygard is a fashion mogul who enjoys ruling over his empire, the Nygard International. The company is basically a huge company based in Winnipeg that is known for its extremely popular women’s apparel. Nygard had got a degree in Business Studies from the University of North Dakota and thereafter, he decided to start his career in the apparel business.

Peter took over the dying business of an old clothing maker- Nathan Jacobs. He finally bought the manufacturing company which he then renamed as ‘Nygard International’. It is an international fashion line and has several offices in strategic locations like Toronto, Mexico, Saskatoon, Montreal, New York and Winnipeg.

Peter Nygard’s latest bit of philanthropy is the money that he has invested to bring a life-saving medical procedure called Stem Cell Therapy to the Bahamas. He has also contributed generously to breast cancer research every year.

Peter Nygard’s Parents- Eeli and Hilkka Nygard

Peter was born in Helsinki, Finland in the year 1943 to a humble family of bakers. In 1952, his parents decided that they wanted to move to Canada. Peter was only nine years old when this happened. They first settled in Deloraine, Manitoba and later moved to Winnipeg. They did not have much money and they lived in what was basically a converted coal bin.

Peter Nygard credits his vast success to three things – genetics, his Finnish roots and perseverance. He is immensely grateful to his parents for having immigrated to Canada. He remembers never having to go without the basic necessities even though money was often scarce in his household.

Peter Nygard’s Spouse

In the 1970s, he was married briefly to a model. He says that she was the ‘woman of his dreams’ and that she left him because he was married to his work and would never spend time at home. They were married for only three short years.