Leandro Rizzuto
Leandro P. "Lee" Rizzuto | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 3, 2017 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Co-founder and chairman of Conair Corporation |
Leandro P. "Lee" Rizzuto (April 10, 1938 – December 3, 2017) was a prominent American billionaire entrepreneur, serving as chairman and co-founder of Conair Corporation, a company he almost entirely controlled.
Early life
Leandro was born in Brooklyn to parents Julian (originally Nicola) and Josephine Rizzuto. He had two sisters, Anita Casamento and Pauline Navarra. In 1959, he left St. John's University to assist his family in starting a hair care products venture from their Brooklyn basement, which eventually developed into Conair.
Career
As of December 2017, Rizzuto's fortune was valued at approximately $3.5 billion.
Personal life
He was divorced and fathered four children, residing in Sheridan, Wyoming. Rizzuto passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 3, 2017.
On January 5, 2018, President Donald Trump named his son, Leandro Rizzuto Jr., as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.