Paul Merage (born 1943) is an Iranian-born American billionaire businessman who co-founded Chef America Inc., the company that popularized the microwavable frozen snack Hot Pockets. In 2015, his net worth was estimated at $1.8 billion.
Biography
Merage was born in Iran in 1943 to a Jewish family, the son of Katherine and Andre Merage. He has four siblings: Louise, Camron, David, and Lin. His father ran an import/export business in France before he was forced to flee back to Iran prior to World War II. at General Foods (now Kraft Heinz Company), Hunt Wesson and Specialty Foods where he was director of new products.
In October 2002, he sold Chef America to Nestlé SA for $2.6 billion; Merage also donated $3 million to the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County, California.