Early Life
Rodney Cyril Sacks was born in South Africa around 1950 into a Lithuanian-Jewish family. He received his education at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he earned a law degree and a postgraduate diploma in tax law. Before embarking on his business career, Sacks practiced law and became the youngest partner at Werksmans, a prominent South African law firm.
Rise to Success
In 1989, Sacks and his family emigrated to California. In 1990, Sacks, along with Hilton Schlosberg, acquired Hansen Natural Corporation. Sacks served as chairman and CEO of the company, which later became Monster Beverage Corporation in 2012. Under his leadership, the company saw remarkable growth, particularly with the launch of the Monster Energy drink line in 2002.
Key Business Strategies
A crucial strategic move was the 2015 partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, which acquired a 16.7% stake in Monster for $2.15 billion, significantly boosting global distribution. Sacks served as the sole CEO until 2021, and then co-CEO until June 2025 when he stepped down from the co-CEO role while remaining as chairman.
Philanthropy
While specific figures are not readily available, Sacks supports charities focused on underprivileged children, and is a main funder of a school for underserved girls in India.