Early Life

Daniel Abraham was born to immigrant parents and raised in a modest household. From a young age, he showed entrepreneurial flair—selling homemade goods and delivering newspapers. He excelled academically and took an interest in chemistry and nutrition, though he didn’t pursue formal scientific or medical training. These formative experiences helped spark the idea for a meal-replacement solution that was both convenient and weight-conscious.

Founding Slim‑Fast & Business Expansion

Abraham launched Slim-Fast in 1977 as a nutritional meal replacement shake marketed to people seeking to lose weight. His product offered a simple pitch: “A shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, then a sensible dinner.” Backed by aggressive marketing and widespread retail distribution, Slim-Fast exploded in popularity in the 1980s, appealing especially to busy, weight-conscious consumers. The brand became a household name, bolstered by celebrity endorsements and constant television advertising. By the time he sold Slim-Fast to Unilever in 2000, the brand had become one of the most recognizable names in the weight-loss industry. The deal was reportedly worth $2.3 billion, instantly placing Abraham among the wealthiest self-made entrepreneurs in America.

Philanthropy and Global Impact

Following the sale of his company, Abraham dedicated much of his fortune to philanthropic causes, focusing primarily on hunger relief, education, and public health. He has funded school feeding programs in sub-Saharan Africa, supported agricultural development projects, and backed clean water initiatives across the developing world. His charitable giving also extended to Jewish causes and medical research, particularly in Israel, where he maintains strong personal and philanthropic ties.

S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace

In 1989, Abraham co-founded the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace with former U.S. Congressman Wayne Owens. The nonpartisan organization works to promote a peaceful resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through diplomacy, education, and high-level dialogue. The Center organizes fact-finding missions, provides detailed geographic and political analysis to negotiators, and serves as a trusted conduit between policymakers in the U.S. and the Middle East. Under Abraham’s continued guidance, the Center has become a respected player in the peace process, working quietly behind the scenes to foster mutual understanding and practical solutions.

Despite his focus on philanthropy, Abraham’s post-Slim-Fast years were not without controversy. In 2016, it was revealed that he and his four daughters had joined together in a legal effort to remove his ex-wife Estanne Abraham as trustee of more than $1 billion in family trusts he had established after the sale of the company. Estanne, who had remarried accountant Martin Fawer, had been managing the trusts since their divorce in 1993. Abraham and his daughters accused her of financial mismanagement and claimed she allowed debts to accrue within the trusts. Estanne’s attorneys denied wrongdoing, noting that she had distributed over $774 million to the children over 11 years. Ultimately, the family pursued a private settlement to remove her as trustee, avoiding a public court battle and dissolving her family office, Interlaken Management.

Political Involvement

Abraham has also been an active political donor, particularly within the Democratic Party. He has contributed millions to candidates and causes aligned with his views on peace, diplomacy, and social justice. His political influence, particularly in matters related to the Middle East, is amplified by his philanthropic reputation and network of high-level contacts in Washington and abroad.