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Inspired by David Murdock’s life story, Coin & Candor pays homage to humble beginnings and an early rise to success. 

In 1943 David Murdock found himself homeless after returning from serving in the United States Army during World War II. Destitute and with only a nickel and a penny in his pocket, Mr. Murdock’s life soon changed after a serendipitous encounter with a Good Samaritan who loaned him $1,200 to purchase a closing coffee shop. It was during this time that Mr. Murdock developed his keen sense for business and passion for hospitality. In a few short months following his ownership, he paid back the loan and generated a small profit of $700 after selling the business. 

This was only the beginning of Mr. Murdock’s entrepreneurial success. From there, his ventures included real estate opportunities and Mr. Murdock later acquired shares in many multinational companies. 

In 1985 Mr. Murdock took over the nearly bankrupt Hawaiian firm Castle & Cooke, which owned pineapple and banana producer Dole Food Company. Mr. Murdock would later develop Castle & Cooke’s real estate portfolio into successful residential and commercial properties and under his leadership, turned Dole Food Company into the world’s largest producer of fruits and vegetables. 

Today, Mr. Murdock owns Castle & Cooke, Pacific Clay and he is the Chairman and CEO of Dole Food Company. With a personal interest in health and wellness, Mr. Murdock is actively involved in finding cures for chronic illness, advancing nutrition and investing in life expectancy research as the founding and driving principal of the Center for Health & Wellbeing.