· if youve ever had hunts ketchup, youve gave a few pennies to norton simon. The company was eventually sold by simon to hunts foods, after which simon retired in 1969. The company was renamed val vita food products company, and, under simon s supervision, expanded its product line to include numerous other fruit and vegetable products. If you’ve ever had hunt’s ketchup… which is probably every human on the planet… you put a couple pennies into norton simon ’s pockets. · and that’s a shame because norton simon lived an incredibly impressive life. Starting with just $ 7 , 000 at the height of the great depression, norton built a food empire than made him one of the richest people in the world during his lifetime. How norton simon parlayed $ 7 , 000 at the height of the great depression into a $ 10 billion ketchup and art fortune Starting with just $ 7 , 000 at the height of the great depression, norton built a food empire that made him one of the richest people in the world during his lifetime. · starting with just $ 7 , 000 at the height of the great depression, norton built a food empire than made him one of the richest people in the world during his lifetime. A man who turned $ 7 , 000 at the height of the great depression, into a $ 10 billion fortune. · and thats a shame because norton simon lived an incredibly impressive life.