Winery owner donates $5m to San Jose flood victims

A Vietnamese-born multi billionaire and Napa winery owner has donated $5 million to support victims of the recent floods in San Jose, northern California.

Kieu Hoang bought a winery and vineyards from the Mondavi estate in Napa Valley in 2014, which now operates as the Kieu Hoang Winery.

Kieu Hoang moved to California at the age of 31, at the end of the Vietnam war, and made his fortune through the foundation of Rare Antibody Antigen Supply in 1980 and Shanghai RAAS Blood Products in 1992, supplying medical products and blood-derived products.

In 2014 Hoang bought a winery and vineyards from the Mondavi estate in the Carneros AVA of Napa Valley, which now operates as the Kieu Hoang Winery.

Worth an estimated $2.8 billion, according to Forbes, Hoang presented a cheque for $5 million to the Mayor of San Jose Sam Liccardo on Wednesday following widespread flooding in the area which caused thousands of families to be evacuated and an estimated $73 million worth of damage.

“Mr. Hoang’s extraordinarily generous gift will make an enormous and immediate difference for the hundreds of flood victims who’ve been forced from their homes as a result of this disaster,” Liccardo said in a statement. “I will always remember how thousands of donors and volunteers came together in a time of crisis to contribute their time, energy and money to help our neighbors get back on their feet.”