| Mark Reynolds Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1956 |
| Died | May 21, 2000 (aged 44) |
| Cause of death | Accidental overdose of prescription anti-depressant and alcohol |
| Nationality | United States |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Occupation | Business |
| Organization | Herbalife |
| Spouse | Kathryn Whiting (div.) Angela Mack (m. 1984, div.) Suzan Schroder (m. Sep-1987, div. 1998, 1 son) |
| Parents | Stuard Hartman (not "Stuart", per Birth certicificate) Jack Reynolds (per Herbalife) Jo Ann Hughes (d. 27-Apr-1975, overdose) |
Mark Reynolds Hughes (January 1, 1956 – May 21, 2000) was an American businessman who was founder, chairman and CEO of Herbalife International Ltd.
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Mark was born on January 1, 1956 to father Stuard Hartman (not "Stuart", per Birth certificate) and mother Jo Ann Hughes (d. 27-Apr-1975, overdose). The eldest of three boys, Mark grew up in Camarillo, California with brothers Kirk Hartman and Guy Hartman (d. Guy passed in 1994, fm alcohol abuse) Kirk Hartman, still alive, lives in Los Angeles, Ca. Both of Mark's brothers worked for Herbalife for many years prior to Mark's death. [1]
In February 1980, aged 24, Hughes founded Los Angeles-based Herbalife International. It has since become one of the world's largest distributors of herbal products through network marketing, with sales of about $3.5 billion in 2007 and 2.1 million Independent Distributors in 75 countries and record retail sales of $4.3 billion in 2010 according to company statements.
In 1994. Mark and Suzan Hughes started the Herbalife Family Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping children. The Herbalife Family Foundation and its sister organization, the International Herbalife Family Foundation, have donated more than $5 million to children's causes worldwide. Created in 1994 by Herbalife Founder Mark Hughes, Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) creates partnerships with charities to help meet the nutritional needs of children at risk. At the same time, HFF is there to provide funds to organizations assisting victims of natural disasters. HFF is a global non-profit organization working in communities around the world. In 2007 the Herbalife Family Foundation established the HFF Humanitarian Award to recognize Herbalife Independent Distributors who exemplify the foundation’s mission and, through their outstanding involvement and dedication, have made a significant contribution to changing lives though community service. The honoree is announced at the Herbalife Honors event.
Hughes often stated that his mother died of an accidental overdose of prescription diet pills when he was 18, which he claimed was the impetus for founding Herbalife.
Mark Hughes died at age 44 of an accidental overdose of alcohol and doxepin, an anti-depressant.[2][3] He died while married to Darcy LaPier to whom he was married for a very short time.[4]
Before his marriage to Lapier, Hughes was married to Suzan Hughes for 10 years. Suzan is the mother to their only son, Alexander.
To the surprise of many, after Mark Hughes death, his attorney Conrad Klein assumed control of all Hughes' ventures including Herbalife, The Herbalife Family Foundation and The Mark Hughes Trust.
In 2006, The Los Angeles Superior Court suggested the potential removal of the Custodian of The Mark Hughes Trust, Jack Reynolds, for the possibility that he may have ceded control of $40,000,000 to Conrad Klein.[5]