Anthony Von Mandl

Early life

Anthony Von Mandl was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to European parents. At the age of nine, his family returned to Europe, however, Anthony eventually moved back to Canada to pursue a secondary education.

Education

Anthony Von Mandl graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Economics.

Career

Anthony von Mandl is an entrepreneur with extraordinary accomplishments in winemaking, agriculture, tourism, and economic development. Through his company Mark Anthony Group; an entrepreneurial drinks company, von Mandl is a leading figure of Canada’s alcohol importing and distribution sector. After graduating from the University of British Columbia, Von Mandl did an apprenticeship in wine-selling, which ultimately inspired him to open an importing business. In 1981, von Mandl fulfilled his ambition of owning a winery, purchasing with partners an estate on Mission Hill in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. During this time there were only 45 wineries in Canada, however today there are more than 700. According to the Wine Growers of Canada, it is a $9-billion industry, with von Mandl credited as a factor behind both the growth and the elevation of the country’s wine reputation. In 1994, Mission Hill Family Estate’s 1992 Grand Reserve Chardonnay won best chardonnay at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. Mission Hill has since won international awards for best Pinot Noir in 2013 and best Canadian red in 2017, and has been voted one of the top 50 vineyards in the world. In addition to his winemaking, in 1999 Anthony created Mike’s Hard Lemonade, a beer alternative that became the source of fist-fights at liquor stores in Ontario when supply dwindled. In 2015, Labatt Breweries bought the Canadian rights to the popular drink as well as a few other Mark Anthony Group brands in a $350 million USD deal. Most recently, Anthony hit markets with the White Claw Hard Seltzer in the U.S. in 2019, outselling every craft beer for stretches at a time.

Net Worth

According to the 2021 Forbes list of Global Billionaires, von Mandl has a net worth of $7.1 billion USD.

Achievement

In 2011, Anthony von Mandl was the co-recipient of the Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence, alongside A.G. Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble. In 2015, he was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. In 2016, von Mandl was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor, and was also the recipient of the Order of British Columbia for his innovative contributions to enhancing Canada’s international reputation in the wine industry. In 2020, von Mandl was inducted into the American Marketing Hall of Fame, in recognition of his exemplary work in the Canadian advertising and marketing industry and his contributions given back to the marketing community. Anthony von Mandl has served on the advisory boards of the University of Western Ontario and the University of British Columbia. He holds five honorary doctorate degrees and is Chairman of The von Mandl Family Foundation, supporting the arts, health initiatives, environmental conservation, and cancer research within Canada and the United States.