Russell Weiner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 15, 1970 United States |
| Education | Redwood High School |
| Alma mater | San Diego State University |
| Occupations | Founder, Rockstar energy drink |
| Father | Michael Savage |
Russell Goldencloud Weiner (born February 15, 1970) [1] [2] is an American billionaire businessman, and works in political fundraising. As of January 2025, his net worth is estimated at US$5.4 billion. [3]
Weiner is the son of Michael Weiner, better known as conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage, and Janet Weiner. He is Jewish. [4] [5]
Weiner graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur, California and graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in political science. [6] He organized events for the Paul Revere Society and worked as a travel consultant. [7]
Weiner founded Rockstar energy drink in 2001, and sold it to PepsiCo in 2020 for more than $4 billion. [3] Weiner is also the founder and CEO of his own company, which is now based in Purchase, New York.[ citation needed ]
In 2016, he was 494th on the Forbes list of the 500 richest Americans with an estimated worth of $3.4 billion dollars.[ citation needed ] In 2025 Forbes estimated his wealth at $5.2 billion. [3]
He co-founded the Paul Revere Society with his father. In 1998, he ran as a Republican for the 6th district seat in the California State Assembly, receiving an endorsement from the president of the NAACP branch in Oakland, California. [6] In June 1998, Weiner won the Republican primary election by five votes. [8] His campaign positions included advocacy for Proposition 227, the ballot initiative eliminating bilingual education in public schools, and protection of old-growth forests. He lost to incumbent Democrat Kerry Mazzoni receiving 13.3% of the vote. [9] After the election, some election posters depicting him were vandalized in an anti-Semitic manner. [4]
In 2009, Weiner donated $25,000 to the California gubernatorial campaign of Gavin Newsom, who was the Democratic mayor of San Francisco. [10] Newsom returned the donation and Weiner gave it to charity. [11]
In 2006, Weiner bought the West Hollywood home of basketball player Carlos Boozer for $10 million. [12] In 2008, he listed another home there for about $3 million (originally it was nearly $15 million based on replacement costs) and sold it for $8 million in 2009. [13]
Weiner lives in Delray Beach, Florida. [3]