Don Vultaggio is the founder and CEO of Arizona Iced Tea, one of America’s most popular beverage brands known for its colorful cans and consistent 99-cent price. In 2025, he remains at the helm of the company he built from scratch.
The Humble Beginnings
Don Vultaggio started Arizona Beverages with his friend John Ferolito in 1992. They began by selling beer in Brooklyn, but then they had a good idea to make ready-to-drink tea in big cans. What makes Don special is how he runs his business. Unlike other big company bosses, Don keeps things simple and focuses on giving customers a good deal.
The Famous 99-Cent Price
The most amazing thing about Arizona Iced Tea is that in 2025, many of their drinks still cost just 99 cents, the same price they’ve had since the 1990s. While other companies keep raising their prices every year, Don has found ways to keep his drinks affordable. He once said in an interview, “I’m committed to that 99-cent price. The day we go to $1.09 is the day we’ve given up.”
A Different Kind of CEO
Don does not act like a normal CEO. He does not spend millions on TV commercials. Instead, Arizona relies on their eye-catching can designs and word-of-mouth. Don believes if you make a good product at a fair price, people will buy it. This thinking has helped Arizona become one of the top-selling tea brands in America without the huge marketing budgets of companies like Coca-Cola or Pepsi.
While other companies have complicated management structures with many layers of bosses, Arizona keeps things flat and simple. This helps them make decisions quickly and stay ahead of trends.
Innovation in 2025
In early 2025, Arizona introduced some new drink flavors that quickly became popular with younger customers. Don personally approved each one, testing them himself before they went to stores. He still tastes every new product before it reaches customers, even though the company is now worth billions.
In summer 2025, when a shortage of tea leaves threatened production, Don personally traveled to meet with tea growers to secure supplies. This hands-on approach is typical of his management style. He doesn’t send assistants to handle important matters, he goes himself.
Keeping It in the Family
Don’s two sons, Wesley and Spencer Vultaggio, work with him at the company. They help bring fresh ideas while keeping the core values that made Arizona successful. The company remains privately owned, which lets Don make decisions without pressure from shareholders who might want to raise prices.
Arizona’s headquarters in Woodbury, New York, is nothing fancy. Don doesn’t believe in wasting money on luxurious offices. In 2025, when many companies have moved to fully remote work, Don still comes to the office regularly. He walks around talking to employees and checking on operations. People who work with him say he remembers everyone’s name and often asks about their families.
Hands-On Problem Solving
What is really interesting about Don is how he handles challenges. In 2025, when many food and drink companies faced supply chain problems, Don worked directly with suppliers to find solutions. When aluminum prices went up, instead of raising the price of Arizona drinks, he temporarily changed some packaging and found more efficient ways to ship products.
Environmental concerns are important to Don too. In 2025, Arizona announced new cans made with 25% less aluminum and a plan to make all packaging recyclable by 2027. Don has said, “We need to leave the planet better for our grandkids. That’s just common sense.”
The Brooklyn-Born Billionaire
What makes Don’s story special is that he built Arizona without fancy college degrees or connections. He grew up in Brooklyn and learned business by doing it, not by studying it. He often tells young entrepreneurs, “Don’t overthink it. Make something people want at a price they can afford.”
Despite being worth billions, Don lives a relatively modest life. He drives himself to work and often eats lunch in the company cafeteria with employees. One worker said, “He’ll sit down next to anyone and ask what they think could be improved. Then he actually listens.”
The Vultaggio Philosophy
The success of Arizona shows that complex business strategies are not always needed. Sometimes the simple approach -good product, fair price, minimal waste- works best. Don has proven this for over 30 years now.
In 2025, as Arizona celebrates another year of growth, Don remains focused on the basics. While competitors raise prices and cut product quality to boost profits, Arizona sticks to its founding principles. This approach has earned them loyal customers who appreciate consistency in an ever-changing world.
What will the future bring for Don and Arizona? He does not make flashy predictions or promise revolutionary changes. Instead, he simply says, “We’ll keep making good drinks at good prices. If something needs fixing, we’ll fix it. If it works, we won’t mess with it.” This simple philosophy has served him well for decades and continues to work in 2025.
FAQs
How old is Don Vultaggio in 2025?
Don Vultaggio is 73 years old in 2025, having been born in 1952. He remains active in running Arizona Beverages despite being at an age when many executives have retired.
Why does Arizona Iced Tea still cost 99 cents?
Arizona Iced Tea maintains its 99-cent price because Don Vultaggio believes in providing value to customers. The company achieves this through efficient operations, minimal advertising, and smart supply chain management rather than maximizing short-term profits.
Is Arizona Iced Tea a family business?
Yes, Arizona Iced Tea remains a family business in 2025. Don Vultaggio runs the company with his sons Wesley and Spencer, who help manage different aspects of the business while maintaining the founding principles their father established.
