Mark Reynolds Hughes American businessman Date of Birth: 01.01.1956 Country: USA

Biography of Mark Reynolds Hughes

Mark Reynolds Hughes was an American businessman who founded the company 'Herbalife', which became well-known worldwide, including in Russia and the former USSR. Born in 1956 in La Mirada, California, Mark was the eldest of three brothers in the Hartman family. His younger brothers, Kirk and Guy Hartman, later worked in his company 'Herbalife International Ltd'.

Mark founded his brainchild, 'Herbalife', in 1980 in Los Angeles at the age of 24. The company initially sold dietary supplements for weight loss and overall nutritional balance. Mark was inspired to create such a company due to his childhood observations of his mother's struggles with weight loss and the harmful effects of diets. Her death at the age of 36 from an overdose of weight loss pills when Mark was 18 years old prompted him to find a way to make diets work for people instead of against them.

The company grew quickly, and the product resulting from Mark's experiments, made from plant-based ingredients, was well-received as something new. In fact, Mark initially sold the first batches of Herbalife products directly from his car. By 1986, Herbalife's stocks were listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Despite not having formal education beyond high school, Mark worked with enthusiasm and determination to help people and create a new product. Later, renowned experts in dietetics, including Nobel laureate David Heber, joined his team.

The concept of 'Herbalife' resonated with people in at least 80 countries worldwide, and the company's revenue reached $4.1 billion US dollars in 2012. 'Herbalife' faced numerous criticisms, including allegations of selling toxic products and numerous lawsuits. However, the company remained resilient, with legal disputes often being resolved in Herbalife's favor. Although the 'Herbalife' product was not a miracle, it did not cause harm, and the company continued to thrive in the market.

'Herbalife' products are not sold in pharmacies; the company positions itself as a direct selling company, and all products, including those in Russia, undergo certification according to the law. The 'Herbalife' concept remains unchanged, and it is sold through multi-level marketing.

Aside from his business endeavors, Mark was actively involved in philanthropy. In 1994, he and his wife Susan established the 'Herbalife Family Foundation', which aimed to help children.

Mark was married four times, with his final marriage occurring just a year before his untimely death. He passed away at the age of 44 shortly after celebrating Herbalife's 20th anniversary. The cause of his death was a sudden cessation of breathing during sleep, reportedly exacerbated by a combination of alcohol and an antidepressant he took for insomnia.