#1698
Riaz Valani
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- E-cigarettes
- Industry
- Finance & Investments
- Residence
- Malibu, California
Biography
Riaz Valani was a general partner at Global Asset Capital, LLC and the first person to invest in electronic cigarette manufacturer Juul.
Valani invested a few million dollars in Juul during its early years, giving him an estimated 20% stake in the company.
When tobacco giant Altria bought a 35% stake in Juul in 2018, Valani reportedly got a pre-tax $2.6 billion dividend payout, according to a book about Juul.
In November 2020, Valani spent $40 million on a Malibu estate formerly owned by Johnny Carson.