Ted Arison

Ted Arison (Hebrew: תד אריסון‎; 24 February 1924 – 1 October 1999) was an Israeli businessman who co-founded Norwegian Cruise Lines in 1966 with Knut Kloster and founded Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972.

Early years

Arison was born Theodore Arisohn in Tel Aviv (in the then British Mandate of Palestine) to Meir, a wealthy businessman, and Vera Arisohn. He was a third-generation sabra of Romanian descent and studied commerce and economics at the American University of Beirut and fought as a member of the Jewish Brigade of the British Army during World War II. After the British departure he later served as an officer in the IDF during Israel's War of Independence, eventually achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From 1946-51, he managed Meir Dizengoff and Company, a shipping company.

Business career

Frustrated by the lack of business opportunities, Arison wrapped up his business and moved to the United States after 1952. He took his family to New York in 1954 and moved to Miami, Florida in 1966. He created Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972 in which he made his fortune.