Lego Boss Michael Halbye Dies in Swiss Skiing Accident at 64 After Fall on the Slopes

Michael Halbye, vice chairman at Lego’s parent company Kirkbi and a board member of The Mary Foundation, has died. He was 64.

Halbye was skiing in the Verbier region of Switzerland when he fell on the piste on Saturday, April 12, according to a statement released by Kirkbi. He was immediately airlifted to the hospital to treat his injuries but died shortly after due to internal bleeding.

“I have received with great sadness the news of Michael Halbye’s sudden death,” Queen Mary of Denmark said in a tribute. “Michael Halbye was a man who possessed a rare positive energy, extensive knowledge and a strong commitment to making a difference for those outside the community.

“He was also my friend, and he will be missed by many. My thoughts go out to his family and close friends,” she added.

Halbye was a member of The Mary Foundation’s board of directors since it was founded in 2007, according to the tribute. In his role, he worked closely with Queen Mary and the foundation’s secretariat.

According to Danish outlet Berlingske, Halbye also had a friendship with King Frederik of Denmark, having worked together in the business world when the latter was a young prince.

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Halbye joined Kirkbi’s board of directors in 2020 and became vice-chair in 2022. Working alongside chairman Thomas Kirk Kristiansen and the rest of the board, he became a “close trusted partner for the owner family and the company’s management.”

“It is with great sadness that we received the news of Michael’s sudden passing,” Kristiansen said in Kirkbi’s statement. “Our thoughts and care go to Michael’s family and loved ones, who are now faced with having to process the unexpected loss of a man who, in all facets of life, has left a great and positive impression on those around him.