William Wrigley, Jr.
Food and Beverage

William Wrigley, Jr. Net Worth

William Wrigley Jr. was born on September 30, 1861 in North Palm Beach, Florida, United States. He is the Chairman and CEO of Wrigley Management, Inc., a company that was founded by his great-grandfather in 1891. In 1999, he took over the business and expanded it in 2005 by purchasing Altoids and Life Savers from Kraft Foods. In 2008, he sold the company to Mars Inc. for $23 billion in cash.
William Wrigley, Jr. is a member of Food and Beverage

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Chairman and CEO, Wrigley Management, Inc.
Birth Day September 30, 1861
Birth Place North Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Age 158 YEARS OLD
Died On January 26, 1932(1932-01-26) (aged 70)\nPhoenix, Arizona, United States
Birth Sign Libra
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Occupation Confectionery magnate
Spouse(s) Ada Elizabeth Foote
Children Dorothy, Philip Knight Wrigley
Parent(s) William and Mary A. Ladley

💰 Net worth: $2.9 Billion (2024)

William Wrigley, Jr. is a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur whose net worth is estimated to be an impressive $2.9 billion in 2024. Known for his role as Chairman and CEO of Wrigley Management, Inc., a renowned company based in the United States, Wrigley has made a significant impact in the business world. With his exceptional leadership skills and business acumen, he has grown the company to great heights, ensuring its continued success. Wrigley's net worth is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit.

2009 $2.1 Billion
2010 $2.1 Billion
2011 $2.2 Billion
2012 $2.2 Billion
2013 $2.4 Billion
2014 $2.6 Billion
2015 $2.6 Billion
2016 $2.6 Billion
2017 $2.8 Billion
2018 $2.76 Billion

Biography/Timeline

1861

Wrigley was born on September 30, 1861, during the Civil War, in Philadelphia.

1891

In 1891, Wrigley moved from Philadelphia to Chicago to go into Business for himself. He had $32 to his name and with it he formed a Business to sell Wrigley's Scouring Soap. He offered customers small premiums, particularly baking powder, as an incentive to buy his soap. Finding the baking powder was more popular than his soap, Wrigley switched to selling baking powder, and giving his customers two packages of chewing gum for each can of baking powder they purchased. Again, Wrigley found that the premium he offered was more popular than his base product, and his company began to concentrate on the manufacture and sale of chewing gum. In this Business, Wrigley made his name and fortune.

1916

In 1916, Wrigley bought a minority stake in the Chicago Cubs baseball team as part of a group headed by Charles Weeghman, former owner of the Federal League's Chicago Whales. Over the next four years, as Weeghman's lunch-counter Business declined, he was forced to sell much of his stock in the ball club to Wrigley. By 1918, Weeghman had sold all of his stock to Wrigley, making Wrigley the largest shareholder and principal owner, and by 1921, Wrigley was majority owner. Wrigley Field, the Cubs' ballpark in Chicago, is named for him. The now-demolished former home of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, at that time the Cubs' top farm team, was also called Wrigley Field. Wrigley purchased the Chicago Cubs from Albert Lasker in 1925.

1919

Wrigley played an instrumental role in the development of Santa Catalina Island, California, off the shore of Los Angeles, California. He bought a controlling interest in the Santa Catalina Island Company in 1919 and with the company received the island. Wrigley improved the island with public utilities, new steamships, a hotel, the Casino building, and extensive plantings of trees, shrubs, and flowers. He also sought to create an enterprise that would help employ local residents. By making use of clay and minerals found on the island at a beach near Avalon, in 1927 william Wrigley Jr. created the Pebbly Beach quarry and tile plant. Along with creating jobs for Avalon residents, the plant also supplied material for Wrigley's numerous building projects on the island. After the building of Avalon's Casino (see Avalon Theater (Catalina)) in 1929, the Catalina Clay Products Tile and Pottery Plant began producing glazed tiles, dinnerware and other household items such as bookends.

1931

The Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, was partially financed and wholly owned by Wrigley, who finished the nearby Wrigley Mansion as a winter cottage in 1931. At 16,000 square feet (1,500 m), it was the smallest of his five residences.

1932

William Wrigley Jr. died on January 26, 1932, at his Phoenix, Arizona mansion, at age 70. He was interred in his custom-designed sarcophagus located in the tower of the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens near his beloved home on California's Catalina Island. In 1947, Wrigley's remains were moved to allow the gardens to be made public. There is a rumor that the remains were moved during World War II due to "wartime security concerns". His original grave memorial marker still adorns the tower site. Wrigley was reinterred in the corridor alcove end of the Sanctuary of Gratitude, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. He left his fortune to daughter Dorothy Wrigley Offield and son Philip K. Wrigley. The son continued to run the company until his death in 1977. His ashes were interred near his Father, in the same Sanctuary of Gratitude alcove.

2000

His great-grandson, william Wrigley Jr. II, is the executive chairman and former CEO of the Wrigley Company. Wrigley was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2000.

2014

Another of Wrigley's legacies was his plan for the Future of Catalina Island—that it be protected for Future generations to enjoy. In 1972, his son, Philip K. Wrigley, established the Catalina Island Conservancy for this purpose and transferred all family ownership to it. Wrigley is honored by the Wrigley Memorial in the Wrigley Botanical Gardens on the island.

Some William Wrigley, Jr. images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.