D on Vultaggio is a self-made American billionaire who co-founded Arizona Beverages, the company famous for its 99-cent cans of iced tea and fruit drinks. In the 1970s, he and his partner, John Ferolito, started a beer distribution business in Brooklyn. In 1992, they saw an opportunity to compete with Snapple and launched their own line of iced teas with distinctive, colorful packaging and a simple, powerful value proposition: a big can for a low price.
This strategy was a massive success, and AriZona Iced Tea grew into a beverage giant, becoming one of the most recognizable brands in the United States. The company has famously kept the price of its signature 23-ounce can at 99 cents for decades, a commitment that has built immense customer loyalty. The company remains privately owned by Vultaggio and his family, after a long and bitter legal battle that resulted in him buying out his co-founder's stake. He remains the chairman and the driving force behind the iconic beverage brand.
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Don Vultaggio is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire founder and Chairman of AriZona Beverage Company, one of the world's largest ready-to-drink (RTD) iced tea and beverage companies. His background is rooted in New York's distribution and beverage retail market. He co-founded the business with John Ferolito.
The company's founding in 1992 was a direct pivot from their earlier venture, which focused on distributing beer. Recognizing the immense, untapped potential of the non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink tea market, Vultaggio's strategic vision centered on two non-negotiable principles: mass production scale and maintaining a permanently low price (99 cents for the iconic big can). This contrarian focus on low prices and distinctive branding became the foundation of his multi-billion dollar fortune.
Don Vultaggio launched AriZona Beverage Company in 1992. His strategic masterpiece was the commitment to the 99-cent price point for the massive, 23-ounce can—a price he has fought relentlessly to maintain for over two decades, even absorbing rising commodity costs (like aluminum tariffs). His model is built on high volume, low margins, and extremely efficient distribution, bypassing traditional, expensive advertising to maintain his price promise.
Under Vultaggio's leadership, the company achieved massive global brand recognition. He successfully bought out his co-founder, John Ferolito, in 2018 after a contentious legal battle, gaining sole control over the empire. His wealth is secured by the company's global dominance in the RTD beverage market, proving that maintaining a value proposition for the mass market can generate a monumental private fortune.
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Founds the AriZona Beverage Company with John Ferolito (Founding).
Commits to the 99-cent price point for the iconic 23-ounce can (Strategic Commitment).
Successfully buys out his co-founder, John Ferolito, gaining sole control after a legal battle (Ownership Consolidation).
Continues as Founder and Chairman, guiding the company's global operations (Executive Leadership).
Don Vultaggio's wealth is concentrated in his founding and controlling ownership of the private beverage giant, AriZona Beverage Company.
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Don Vultaggio's social impact is structural, stemming from AriZona's role in providing a high-value, low-cost product to the mass consumer market for over two decades. His commitment to the 99-cent price point acts as an inflation barrier for a common consumer product.
His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. His career is a testament to the profitability of disciplined, contrarian business strategy in the essential consumer beverage sector.
Don Vultaggio maintains the rugged, self-made style of a New York businessman. His attire is consistently professional and pragmatic, reflecting his focus on the industrial and distribution side of the business. His aesthetic is one of serious authority, befitting a multi-billion dollar executive commanding a massive food and beverage empire.
His luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to his founding principles of low prices and high volume in the essential consumer staples sector.
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“If we raise the price, we will have a riot. I am committed to the 99-cent price point.”
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-0.35% | -$31.35M
+0.21% | +$2.82M
This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:
All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.
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