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Don Vultaggio & family

Don Vultaggio & family

D. family
1.39% | + $84.86M
$6.18 B ₹ 56,246 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #665 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Don Vultaggio & family

Gender

Male

Age

74Y

Country

United States

Born On

January, 1952

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Married

Children

2

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Beverages)

Primary Organization

Arizona Beverages

Titles

Co-Founder & Chairman

Sources of Wealth

AriZona Beverages

Industry

Food & Beverage

About Don Vultaggio & family


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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Quick Reads


  • Co-founder of Arizona Beverages, maker of AriZona Iced Tea.
  • A self-made billionaire, he started as a beer distributor in Brooklyn.
  • The brand is famous for its 99-cent big can, a price it has maintained for decades.
  • He and his family own the privately held company.
  • Bought out his co-founder's stake after a lengthy legal dispute.

Early Life and Background


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.

Career Journey of Don Vultaggio & family


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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Don Vultaggio & family's Timeline


1992:

Founds the AriZona Beverage Company with John Ferolito (Founding).

Ongoing:

Commits to the 99-cent price point for the iconic 23-ounce can (Strategic Commitment).

2018:

Successfully buys out his co-founder, John Ferolito, gaining sole control after a legal battle (Ownership Consolidation).

Ongoing:

Continues as Founder and Chairman, guiding the company's global operations (Executive Leadership).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Don Vultaggio's wealth is concentrated in his founding and controlling ownership of the private beverage giant, AriZona Beverage Company.

  • AriZona Beverage Company (Founder & Chairman): The core private asset, a global leader in ready-to-drink (RTD) iced tea, juice, and soft drinks. The brand is iconic for its 99-cent, 23-ounce can and distinctive packaging.
  • Core Strategy: His success is built on the contrarian low-pricing model and high-volume sales.
  • Investment in Real Estate: The family maintains private investment in real estate and financial assets.
  • Distribution Focus: His strategy emphasizes low-cost, efficient distribution to maintain the mass-market value proposition.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


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.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


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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Quotes and Philosophy


“If we raise the price, we will have a riot. I am committed to the 99-cent price point.”

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the founder and Chairman of AriZona Iced Tea.
  • The company is famous for its 99-cent price point on the 23-ounce can, which he has maintained since the 1990s.
  • He successfully bought out his co-founder, John Ferolito, after a legal battle.
  • The company was a pivot from a business distributing beer.
  • He famously said he would absorb aluminum tariff costs to maintain the 99-cent price.
  • The company is known for its distinctive, large can packaging.
  • His wealth is tied to the long-term, stable profitability of the RTD (ready-to-drink) beverage market.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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