Papillaud owned 51% of the Alma Group,[4][5] which sells mineral water under the brandnames of Cristaline, MontBlanc, Saint-Yorre, Rozana, Chateldon and Vichy Célestins.[6] In 2008, he sold the other 49% to the Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical for US$1.2 billion.[4]
According to Forbes, he was worth an estimated US$1.31 billion as of 2016.[4] He was the 67th richest person in France (2016).[7]
In April 2016, Papillaud's name was mentioned in the Panama Papers through a power-of-attorney for Krewitt, a company based in the British Virgin Islands.[8]
In September 2016, the New York Times reported that Pierre Papillaud demanded that the town of Weed, California give up its only water source so that Papillaud's bottle water company could have more water to sell as Cristaline.[9]
