The Billionaire Who Built A Rolling Paper Empire Without Smoking A Joint

Meet Don Levin, the billionaire who has proven that success doesn’t always come from personal experience. 

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Levin founded D.R.L. Enterprises, which owns Republic Brands, the top seller of rolling papers in the world. Levin doesn’t smoke weed or know how to roll a joint. 

“I was the guy who smoked a joint and I'd be in the corner drooling," he said. "I was comatose. It killed me; I was the odd person out.”

So what's Levin’s secret? Vertical integration. He owns the brands and the factories that turn hemp, wood, bamboo and rice into paper as well as the manufacturing plant that puts the paper into booklets. With over 1.2 billion booklets of rolling paper produced annually, Levin’s mills could wrap the planet 150 times per year. That’s more paper than gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson could have dreamed of. 

Levin’s business empire extends beyond rolling papers — he’s also the owner of the Chicago Wolves, an American League Hockey team formed in 1994. Under his leadership, the team has won an impressive five titles, making him not only a savvy businessman but a successful sports team owner as well. 

He also produced Stephen King’s horror film "Maximum Overdrive." He’s even partied at the Playboy Mansion and lost his car while high on edibles. With all these shenanigans, it’s no wonder the feds once raided his warehouse. Despite all of this, Levin has remained under the radar until now, with Forbes estimating his worth to be at least $1.7 billion.

In the world of rolling papers, Levin is the kingpin. He may not use his own products, but he certainly knows how to turn a profit from them. 

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The Growth of CBD and Cannabis

It's no secret the $15.8 billion CBD market and $13.2 billion cannabis markets have seen considerable growth in recent years.  CBD in the U.S. was only legalized in 2018 and has since become one of the fastest-growing markets in the U.S., with an estimated 21.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next several years. Larger tobacco companies like Phillip Morris International Inc. and Altria Group Inc. have explored or begun entering the markets in recent years. And in the startups market, CBD startup Chow420 has seen substantial traction raising over $1.7 million previously from hundreds of retail investors. The company recently re-launched on StartEngine, which means anyone can invest in Chow420 for a limited time. 

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