Ron Rice, the founder of sunscreen brand Hawaiian Tropic, has died at the age of 81.
His death was announced by his family last week on Facebook. A cause was not specified.
The American entrepreneur created his suntan lotion business in 1969 with a US$500 loan from his father.
A former chemistry teacher, Rice developed Hawaiian Tropic's first batch of the signature coconut-scented product in a rubbish bin.
He later reportedly had the bin silver plated.
Hawaiian Tropic's marketing strategy focused on branded beauty pageants, with the winners becoming brand ambassadors.
A rapid success saw the company become at one point the second largest sun care business in the world.
Playtex, the consumer goods manufacturer, acquired the brand for $83m in 2007. It is now owned by Edgewell Personal Care
In 2017, Rice created Havana Sun, a Cuba-inspired sun care brand.
Cosmetics Business has reached out to Hawaiian Tropic for comment.