S Daniel Abraham

S. Daniel Abraham, an entrepreneur who turned a tiny family business into a giant that dominated the weight-loss industry with popular brands like Slim-Fast and Dexatrim, died on Sunday July 6 2025 in Manhattan. He was 100. World War II veteran founded diet drink outfit Slim-Fast in 1976; created weight-loss craze with slimming the likes of Tommy Lasorda and Kathy Lee Gifford with "a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner." Expanded to extra snacks. Sold to Unilever in 2000; made $2.3 billion before taxes. Built wellness center for Mayo Clinic employees. Abraham, whose family of six at the time lived in Israel for much of the 1970s, was also active politically, especially in his later years. In pursuit of Middle East peace, he cultivated relationships with top Israeli, American and Arab leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a friend for more than three decades. Mr. Abraham was particularly close to Bill and Hillary Clinton, becoming one of the biggest donors to Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 campaign for president. Abraham sold his company to Unilever in 2000 for $2.3 billion. In 2014, Unilever sold the SlimFast brand to the private equity firm Kainos Capital, which sold it to the nutrition company Glanbia in 2018. Glanbia put the product line up for sale in February 2025. Forbes estimated Mr. Abraham’s wealth this year at $2.4 billion. His marriage in 1963 to Estanne Weiner ended in divorce in 1993. He married Ewa Sebzda in 1996. She survives him, along with four daughters from his first marriage, Rebecca Gridish, Leah Pinck, Tamar Wolchok and Simona Ganz; two children from his second marriage, Sarah and Samuel Abraham; 27 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren..