Monat Global Co-Founder Faces Aggravated Battery Charge After Alleged Hit-and-Run
Luis Urdaneta, the 64-year-old co-founder of multi-level marketing company Monat Global, has been arrested and charged with aggravated battery following a disturbing incident in Coral Gables, Florida. Authorities allege that Urdaneta intentionally drove his luxury Rolls-Royce through a street barricade, striking a construction worker before fleeing the scene.
The Alleged Incident in Coral Gables
According to arrest reports obtained by local media, the incident occurred on January 9th when Urdaneta was reportedly on his way to a Whole Foods Market in the affluent Coral Gables area. The victim, a construction worker who has not been publicly identified, was setting up barricades for a street closure when he noticed Urdaneta's Rolls-Royce approaching.
The worker told authorities he waved at the driver to indicate the road was closed and that he needed to turn around. Instead of complying, Urdaneta allegedly continued forward, with the victim directly in his path. Police reports state that Urdaneta "intentionally drove forward, hitting and pushing the victim out of the way."
"The victim stated the driver looked directly at him and motioned with his right hand as if he wanted the victim to move out of his way," the arrest report details. A witness corroborated this account, telling police they saw the driver deliberately use his vehicle to force the victim aside.
Urdaneta's Version of Events and Arrest
Urdaneta was arrested at his nearly $7 million mansion on Wednesday following an investigation that led authorities to identify him through photographs of his vehicle taken by the witness. The Venezuelan-born entrepreneur has admitted to being the driver but offers a different account of what transpired.
In his statement to authorities, Urdaneta claimed the victim "suddenly jumped in front of him" and struck his windshield with an open hand. He explained that he left the scene because he was frightened by the encounter. Despite this explanation, Coral Gables police proceeded with the arrest based on witness statements and evidence collected at the scene.
Urdaneta spent time at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center before being released on a $5,000 bond. He now faces a single count of aggravated battery related to the incident.
Background of the Monat Global Co-Founder
This legal trouble comes amid Urdaneta's carefully cultivated image as a self-made entrepreneur who rose from poverty in Venezuela to build a near-billion-dollar business. In his 2024 memoir, Rebel Leadership: Why It Pays to Break the Rules to Be Successful in Business and in Life, Urdaneta describes himself as lacking a high school diploma but achieving remarkable success through determination alone.
Urdaneta co-founded Monat Global with his son, Rayner Urdaneta, in October 2014. The company markets itself as a premium beauty brand specializing in hair, skincare, and wellness products sold primarily through social media and multi-level marketing channels. Within three years of its launch, Monat climbed to the industry's Global Top 100 list, joining established names like Mary Kay and Avon.
The company now features multiple Urdaneta family members in leadership positions:
- Rayner Urdaneta serves as CEO
- Luis Urdaneta holds the position of chairperson
- Leudin Petit Urdaneta, Luis's wife, is designated as "chief culture officer"
The family resides in a lavish $6.5 million property featuring seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, reflecting the substantial wealth accumulated through their business ventures.
Previous Legal Challenges for Monat Global
This is not the first time Urdaneta or his company have faced legal scrutiny. Just four years after Monat's founding, the company became embroiled in a class action lawsuit alleging their hair products caused "extensive hair loss" for numerous customers.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court by plaintiff Sue Hoffpauir, claimed that "Monat knowingly preyed on women's humble desire for self-beautification through longer, thicker, more luxuriant hair" while delivering "painful scalp irritation and embarrassing hair loss for many customers." The complaint further alleged that Monat operates as a pyramid scheme, with the Urdaneta family positioned at the top of the structure.
Although this particular lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, it coincided with regulatory attention from the Food and Drug Administration. In 2018, the FDA reported receiving 199 adverse event reports related to Monat hair products over a one-year period. Agency sources indicated this represented the second-highest number of complaints ever received for a haircare brand, surpassed only by Wen by Chaz Dean.
FDA inspectors visiting Monat's Florida manufacturing facility documented concerning conditions, noting that products were being "prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth." The inspection report highlighted risks of cross-contamination due to open reactor lids and missing protective caps on production hoses.
Internal Corporate Disputes and Ongoing Challenges
Monat responded to the product safety concerns by sending their formulations to an independent laboratory used by major brands like L'Oréal and Proctor & Gamble, which found the products to be safe. Company president Stuart A. MacMillan attributed much of the controversy to Monat's rapid growth, suggesting the company initially lacked adequate systems to handle its expanding customer and distributor base.
Ironically, MacMillan himself would later file a lawsuit against Monat in April 2024, accusing Urdaneta and his son of orchestrating a scheme to dilute profits and avoid paying millions allegedly owed to him. This lawsuit was dismissed in March 2025, but it highlights the internal tensions within the company leadership.
As Urdaneta navigates his latest legal challenge, the incident raises questions about the conduct of high-profile entrepreneurs and the scrutiny facing multi-level marketing companies. The Daily Mail has reached out to Monat Global for comment on the arrest and charges, but no statement has been issued at this time.
