Melvin J. Gordon held a significant equity stake in Tootsie Roll Industries, owning approximately 1.1 million shares of Common Stock and 1.1 million shares of Class B Common Stock. At the time of his tenure, Class B shares granted him...

Melvin J. Gordon held a significant equity stake in Tootsie Roll Industries, owning approximately 1.1 million shares of Common Stock and 1.1 million shares of Class B Common Stock. At the time of his tenure, Class B shares granted him stronger voting power, indicating his influential role in company decisions. His holdings represented a sizeable portion of his wealth, aligning his interests directly with the company’s performance. Even in a year like 2014, when his total compensation reached $3.3 million, the bulk of his wealth was tied to his shares in Tootsie Roll. Throughout his time, he avoided receiving additional stock or option awards, focusing instead on the long-term health of his investments in the company he led for decades. His legacy includes his significant personal investment in Tootsie Roll, which was aimed at ensuring its sustained success and stability in a competitive industry.