#1435

Don Levin

United States 74 years old Self-Made

Overview

Source of Wealth
rolling papers
Industry
Manufacturing
Residence
Glenview, Illinois
Organization
Founder, Chairman at Republic Group
Marital Status
Married
Children
1

Biography

Don Levin made a fortune in tobacco rolling paper.

Levin's D.R.L. Enterprises owns Republic Brands and a group of companies that owns a paper mill, a rolling paper manufacturing facility and iconic brands including E-Z Wider, OCB and JOB.

Born to a used car salesman, Levin was planning to be a car salesman himself until a friend convinced him to buy a head shop in Chicago named Adams Apple.

Most of the store's customers came in looking for rolling papers, so Levin started a distribution company that sold rolling papers to smoke shops.

In 2000, Levin bought iconic brands OCB and JOB from French paper magnate Vincent Bolloré.

Today Republic does more than $600 million in estimated annual revenue and is one of the biggest players in the rolling paper industry.