Age, Biography and Wiki

Momofuku Ando (Go Peh-hok (吳百福)) was born on 5 March, 1910 in Bokushi-shi, Kagi-chō, Japanese Taiwan (now Puzi, Chiayi County, Taiwan), is a Taiwanese-Japanese inventor and businessman (1910–2007). Discover Momofuku Ando's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 97 years old?

Popular As Go Peh-hok (吳百福)
Occupation N/A
Age 97 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born 5 March 1910
Birthday 5 March
Birthplace Bokushi-shi, Kagi-chō, Japanese Taiwan (now Puzi, Chiayi County, Taiwan)
Date of death 2007
Died Place Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Nationality Taiwan

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 5 March. He is a member of famous Founder with the age 97 years old group.

Momofuku Ando Height, Weight & Measurements

At 97 years old, Momofuku Ando height not available right now. We will update Momofuku Ando's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Momofuku Ando's Wife?

His wife is Masako Ando

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Masako Ando
Sibling Not Available
Children Hirotoshi Ando Koki Ando Akemi Horinouchi

Momofuku Ando Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Momofuku Ando worth at the age of 97 years old? Momofuku Ando’s income source is mostly from being a successful Founder. He is from Taiwan. We have estimated Momofuku Ando's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Founder

Momofuku Ando Social Network

Instagram
Linkedin
Twitter
Facebook
Wikipedia
Imdb

Timeline

Momofuku Ando (安藤 百福), born Go Pek-Hok, was an inventor and businessman who founded Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. He is known as the inventor of instant Noodles (ramen Noodles) and the creator of the brands Top Ramen and Cup Noodles.

1910

Ando was born Go Pek-Hok in 1910 into a wealthy family of Hoklo Chinese ethnicity in Chiayi County, when the island of Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule.

He was raised by his grandparents within the city walls of Tainan following the deaths of his parents.

His grandparents owned a small textiles store, which inspired him, at the age of 22, to start his own textiles company, using 190,000 yuan, in Tōa-tiū-tiâⁿ, Taipei.

1933

In 1933, Ando traveled to Osaka, where he established a clothing company while studying economics at Ritsumeikan University.

1945

He renounced his Japanese citizenship after Taiwan was liberated from Japanese rule in 1945, in order to keep his property on the island, but again became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1966.

1948

Ando was convicted of tax evasion in 1948 and served two years in jail.

In his biography, Ando said he had provided scholarships for students, which at the time was a form of tax evasion.

After he lost his company due to a chain-reaction bankruptcy, Ando founded what was to become Nissin in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan, starting off as a small family-run company producing salt.

With Japan still suffering from a shortage of food in the post-war era, the Ministry of Health tried to encourage people to eat bread made from wheat flour that was supplied by the United States.

Ando wondered why bread was recommended instead of Noodles, which were more familiar to the Japanese.

The Ministry's response was that noodle companies were too small and unstable to satisfy supply needs, so Ando decided to develop the production of Noodles by himself.

The experience convinced him that "Peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat."

1958

On August 25, 1958, at the age of 48, and after months of trial and error experimentation to perfect his flash-frying method, Ando marketed the first package of precooked instant Noodles.

The original chicken flavor is called Chikin Ramen.

It was originally considered a luxury item with its price of ¥35 (US$0.10 in 1958 under the then exchange rate of 360 yen to the dollar but equivalent to ¥608 by 2021 or US$5.69 under the current exchange rate of US$1 =¥106.775 in around six times that of traditional udon and soba Noodles at the time., Chicken Ramen is still sold in Japan and now retails for around ¥120 (US$1.12), or approximately one-third the price of the cheapest bowl of Noodles in a Japanese restaurant.

1964

In 1964, seeking a way to promote the instant noodle industry, Ando founded the Instant Food Industry Association, which set guidelines for fair competition and product quality, introducing several industry standards such as the inclusion of production dates on packaging and the "fill to" line.

He was also the chairman of the International Ramen Manufacturers' Association.

When Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China after the end of World War II, Ando had to choose between becoming its citizen or remaining a Japanese subject.

Ando chose the former in order to keep his ancestral properties on the island, as all Japanese nationals had to forfeit their properties in Taiwan.

1966

Nevertheless, in 1966, Ando naturalized through marriage and became a Japanese citizen.

"Momofuku" is the Japanese reading of his Taiwanese given name, while is the surname of his Japanese wife.

1971

According to The Financial Times, Ando's invention of Cup Noodles in 1971, at the age of 61, helped spark the popularity of instant Noodles overseas.

He had observed that Americans ate Noodles by breaking the Noodles in half, putting them into a paper cup, and pouring hot water over the Noodles.

They also ate them with a fork instead of chopsticks.

Ando was inspired, and felt that a Styrofoam cup—with a narrower bottom than the top—would be the ideal vessel for holding Noodles and keeping them warm.

Eating the Noodles would then be as easy as opening the lid, adding hot water and waiting.

This simplicity, efficiency and low price of Cup Noodles went on to transform Nissin's fortunes.

Ando began the sales of his most famous product,, on September 18, 1971, with the idea of providing a waterproof polystyrene container.

As prices dropped, instant ramen soon became a booming business.

1972

In 1972, the Asama-Sansō hostage standoff took place in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Widespread coverage of the event, which included repeated images of the prefectural Riot Police Unit eating the Noodles on national television, have been conjectured as boosting awareness of the brand.

2007

Ando died of heart failure on January 5, 2007, at a hospital in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, at the age of 96.

Ando was survived by his wife Masako, two sons and a daughter.

Ando claimed that the secret of his long life was playing golf and eating chicken ramen almost every day.

He was said to have eaten instant ramen until the day he died.

2008

On April 8, 2008, a ramen summit was held in Osaka and a bronze statue of Ando was unveiled at the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture The statue depicts Ando standing atop a base resembling a noodle container while holding a noodle cup container in his right hand.

Yasuhiro Nakasone (former Prime Minister of Japan) and Masako Ando (Ando's wife) attended the unveiling ceremony.

On October 1, 2008, the company's name was changed to "NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS".

2009

Worldwide demand reached 98 billion servings in 2009.