Daniel Abraham, an entrepreneur who turned a tiny family business into a giant that dominated the weight-loss industry with popular brands like Slim-Fast and Dexatrim, died on June 29 in Manhattan. He was 100.

Mr. Abraham built his fortune on a pharmaceutical company that his father, a dentist, bought for $5,000 in 1947 after spotting it in an advertisement in the trade publication Drug Store News. He expanded the company into an empire that included Slim-Fast.

Mr. Abraham, whose family lived in Israel for much of the 1970s, was also active politically. In pursuit of Middle East peace, he cultivated relationships with top Israeli, American and Arab leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a friend for more than three decades.

Forbes estimated Mr. Abraham’s wealth this year at $2.4 billion.