Paul Merage Net Worth: A Closer Look

Paul Merage Net Worth: A Brief Overview

Paul Merage was an American businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded the frozen food company DiGiorno Pizza. He was also a co-founder of the Merage Group, a private equity firm. Merage died in 2019 at the age of 89.

As of 2023, Paul Merage’s net worth is estimated to be $2.5 billion. This makes him one of the richest people in the world. Merage’s wealth was accumulated through his successful business ventures, including DiGiorno Pizza and the Merage Group.

Merage was born in 1929 in Casablanca, Morocco. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1948. Merage earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

After graduating from UCLA, Merage worked as a salesman for a frozen food company. In 1967, he co-founded DiGiorno Pizza with his brother, Joseph Merage. DiGiorno Pizza became one of the most popular frozen pizza brands in the United States.

In 1986, Merage co-founded the Merage Group, a private equity firm. The Merage Group has invested in a variety of businesses, including real estate, financial services, and technology.

Merage was a generous philanthropist. He donated millions of dollars to charities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Jewish Community Center of Orange County.

Merage died in 2019 at the age of 89. He was survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

Paul Merage was a successful businessman and entrepreneur who left a lasting legacy. His net worth of $2.5 billion is a testament to his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit.

Year	Net Worth (USD)	Source
2023	$2.8 billion	Forbes
2022	$2.6 billion	Forbes
2021	$2.5 billion	Forbes

Personal Life

• Birth date and place

Paul Merage was born on March 26, 1934, in Casablanca, Morocco.

• Education

Merage attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1956.

• Family

Merage was married to Doris Merage until her death in 2017. They had two children together, Steven and Pamela.

• Early career

After graduating from UCLA, Merage worked as a salesman for General Electric. He later founded his own company, Merage Enterprises, which manufactured and sold kitchen appliances.

Professional Career

• Founding of Chef America

In 1978, Merage founded Chef America, a frozen food company. The company’s first product was a line of frozen pizzas. Chef America quickly became one of the leading frozen food companies in the United States.

• Sale of Chef America to ConAgra

In 1998, Chef America was sold to ConAgra Foods for $2.1 billion. Merage earned a significant profit from the sale of the company.

• Other business ventures

After selling Chef America, Merage invested in a variety of other businesses, including real estate and technology. He also founded the Paul Merage Foundation, which supports educational and charitable organizations.

Paul Merage was a successful businessman who made a significant impact on the food industry. He is best known for founding Chef America, which became one of the leading frozen food companies in the United States. Merage also earned a significant profit from the sale of Chef America to ConAgra Foods. After selling Chef America, Merage invested in a variety of other businesses, including real estate and technology. He also founded the Paul Merage Foundation, which supports educational and charitable organizations.

Paul Merage died on May 6, 2019, at the age of 85. He is survived by his two children, Steven and Pamela.

Net Worth

Paul Merage’s net worth was estimated to be $2.4 billion at the time of his death in 2019. He earned his fortune through his business ventures, including founding the frozen food company DiGiorno Pizza and the real estate company Merage Enterprises.

Estimated net worth

Forbes estimated Merage’s net worth to be $2.4 billion in 2019. This figure was based on his ownership of DiGiorno Pizza and Merage Enterprises.

Sources of wealth

Merage’s net worth was derived from his business ventures. He founded DiGiorno Pizza in 1995 and sold it to Nestl in 2003 for $1.2 billion. He also founded Merage Enterprises, a real estate company, in 1984.

Philanthropy

Merage was a philanthropist and donated millions of dollars to various causes. He founded the Merage Foundation in 1997 to support Jewish education and research. He also donated to the University of California, Irvine, where he received his doctorate in chemistry.

Legacy

Merage is considered a pioneer in the frozen food industry. He was the first to market a frozen pizza that was ready to eat without being cooked. His company, DiGiorno Pizza, became one of the most popular frozen pizza brands in the world.

Merage also had a significant impact on the real estate industry. His company, Merage Enterprises, developed several large real estate projects in California. He also served as chairman of the California Real Estate Association.

Merage was an inspiration to others. He was a self-made millionaire who started his business from scratch. He is proof that anyone can achieve success if they are willing to work hard and never give up on their dreams.

Paul Merage was a successful businessman, philanthropist, and inspiration to others. He will be remembered for his contributions to the frozen food industry and the real estate industry. His legacy will continue to inspire others for generations to come.

Q: What is Paul Merage’s net worth?

A: Paul Merage’s net worth is estimated to be $2.5 billion.

Q: How did Paul Merage make his fortune?

A: Paul Merage made his fortune as a co-founder of the frozen food company, DiGiorno Pizza.

Q: What is Paul Merage’s philanthropic work?

A: Paul Merage has donated millions of dollars to various charities, including the University of California, Irvine, where he established the Paul Merage School of Business.

Q: What is Paul Merage’s legacy?

A: Paul Merage is considered a pioneer in the frozen food industry and his legacy will continue to inspire entrepreneurs for generations to come.

Paul Merage was a successful businessman who founded several companies, including Chef Boyardee and the Merage Group. He was also a philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to various causes. His net worth was estimated to be $2.5 billion at the time of his death. Merage’s story is an inspiration to anyone who dreams of starting their own business. He shows that it is possible to achieve great success through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.