Tolerance of ambiguity, intelligence, optimism, and critical thinking are some of the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. These are all personified by businessman, philanthropist, and author Daniel Lubetzky. He is known for founding the snack company Kind LLC and as a frequent guest investor on Shark Tank. According to Forbes, Daniel Lubetzky has a net worth of $2.1 billion.
Early Life
Daniel is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. His exact date of birth hasn’t been disclosed, but it was sometime around 1968. His father, Roman, was a partner in the United Export Trading Association and is a holocaust survivor.
When he was a teenager, his family relocated to the United States. In their new home, his parents worked at duty-free shops with a business headquarters in Laredo, Texas.
He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in economics and international relations from Trinity University. In 1993, he obtained his Doctor of Law from Stanford Law School.
Career Beginnings
While still in college, the young Mexican founded a retail watch company called Da’Leky Times. After graduating from law school, he briefly worked at two multinational legal firms, McKinsey & Company, and Sullivan & Cromwell.
Daniel founded PeaceWorks in 1994, a “not-Only-for-profit” company that pursued both peace and profits. Peaceworks was born from Daniel’s college thesis and the legislative proposal that he wrote. It aimed to promote corporate relations in the Middle East.
KIND LLC was launched in 2003, the business was born out of Lubetzky’s frustration with the lack of options for convenient and healthy options to eat on the go.
Continued Success
After only a year, Daniel Lubetzky’s startup made $1 million in revenue, becoming one of the fastest-growing snack companies in Mexico and America. This helped the entrepreneur launch more companies later on in his career.
In 2010, Lubetzky co-founded a fashion brand called Maiyet, which became known for partnering with artisans in developing communities. In 2018, he established Equilibra Partners Management Inc. to invest in packaged goods businesses.
The investment firm came in handy when he bought 25% of Yellow Leaf Hammocks for $1 million as a guest investor on season 11 of Shark Tank. Apart from funding early startups, Daniel also wrote a best-selling book titled “Do the KIND Thing,” which was published in 2015.
Net Worth and Earnings
Mars candy brand acquired a minority share in Kind LLC in 2017. Three years later, Mars paid a whopping $5 billion to purchase full ownership of the snack line. Daniel is no longer serving as the CEO of the company.
Aside from this, he also receives $50,000 per episode when he appears on Shark Tank. This figure doesn’t include his profits from the investments he has made in the series. This, and his book sales, also play a role in Daniel Lubetzky’s $2.1 billion fortune.
Personal Life
Daniel got married to Michelle Lynn Libernann, a nephrologist, in 2008. The couple started dating in 2006 before they decided to settle down. Currently, they reside in New York City with their four children.