Pierre Papillaud
Pierre Bernard Papillaud | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Vignonet, Gironde, France |
| Died | June 13, 2017 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Controlling majority share in Alma Group (mineral water company) |
Pierre Bernard Papillaud (1 July 1935 – 13 June 2017) was a French entrepreneur and billionaire.
Early life
Originating from Vignonet, Gironde, Papillaud's background was humble; his grandmother owned just two cows. During World War II, his father served as an officer in the French Army and was taken prisoner by Nazi forces in Belgium.
Career
Papillaud controlled a majority 51% share in the Alma Group, a prominent mineral water enterprise known for brands including Cristaline, MontBlanc, Saint-Yorre, Rozana, Chateldon, and Vichy Célestins. In 2008, he divested the remaining 49% stake to Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceutical for $1.2 billion.
By 2016, Forbes valued his fortune at approximately $1.31 billion, placing him as France's 67th wealthiest individual. That same year, he appeared in the Panama Papers due to holding power-of-attorney for Krewitt, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
Additionally, in 2016, media reports revealed Papillaud’s insistence that the municipality of Weed, California surrender its only water supply to support Cristaline’s bottling facilities, demonstrating his assertive approach to securing resources.
Personal life
Papillaud lived in Paris until his passing on 13 June 2017.