Meshulam Riklis, a financier who aggressively uses debt to acquire companies before that tactic became commonplace, died Jan. 25 in Tel Aviv. He was best known, beyond business circles, for his marriage at the age of 53 to 24-year-old singer and actress Pia Zadora, whose career he financed.

Mr. Riklis, who was born in Turkey and raised in Israel, was a brash financial alchemist and corporate raider who built empires out of office equipment companies, retailers like the McCrory-McLellan chain, and the Lerner Shops, a variety of outfits like BVD, Playtex, Fabergé, and the liquor distiller Schenley, and the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. He also financed the startup of Carnival Cruise Line with his friend Ted Arison.

Proud of his Jewish heritage, he donated about $190 million to Israeli charities and pro-Israel causes.