You’ve probably seen the bottles. That tough-looking gorilla staring back at you from the hardware aisle. It’s a staple in basically every junk drawer in America. But every few months, the internet starts whispering. People start digging into the history of the brand, and a specific name pops up: Mark Singer. Then comes the question that seems to trend every time someone discovers the origin story. Is Mark Singer Gorilla Glue still alive?
Short answer: Yes. Absolutely.
In fact, if you happened to catch an episode of Shark Tank recently, you might have seen him. He wasn't there to sell glue, though. He was there with his son, Kenzo, pitching a completely different invention called EyeWris. It turns out the guy who brought the world’s most famous polyurethane adhesive to the U.S. market is still very much in the game of making things.
The Guy Behind the Gorilla
Most people assume Gorilla Glue was dreamed up in some corporate lab in Ohio. It wasn't. The real story is way more "indie" than that. Mark Singer was—and still is—a master woodworker and furniture designer. We’re talking high-end stuff, the kind of furniture that ends up in museums like the MoMA.
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Back in the early 90s, Mark was in Indonesia checking on some teak furniture production. He noticed the local craftsmen using this weird, sticky stuff he hadn't seen before. It was a Danish-manufactured polyurethane glue. In the States, we mostly had yellow wood glues that were fine, but they weren't "fix everything" fine.
Mark saw the potential immediately.
He didn't just buy a bottle; he bought the North American rights. He tweaked the formula a bit, slapped a memorable name on it, and launched The Gorilla Glue Company in 1994. He basically started the business out of a workshop. It was a tiny operation. He did the marketing, the sales, the whole nine yards.
Why Do People Think He’s Gone?
There's a weird quirk with how we view founders. Once a brand becomes a household name, we assume the person who started it is either a billionaire on a private island or has passed away. Mark Singer doesn't really fit the "corporate titan" mold.
He sold the company fairly early on.
In 1999, Mark sold the brand to the Ragland family (specifically the Lutz Tool Company guys). This is where the confusion often starts. When a founder exits a company, they often vanish from the public eye. The Raglands took Gorilla Glue from a niche woodworker's secret to a global powerhouse. Since Mark wasn't the "face" of the brand during its massive 2000s explosion, people lost track of him.
Then there’s the "Mark Singer" name confusion.
Honestly, it’s a more common name than you’d think. There is a very famous journalist named Mark Singer who writes for The New Yorker. There’s also an actor named Marc Singer (best known for The Beastmaster). If you Google the name without context, you get a mix of profiles, which leads to those "wait, is he still around?" moments.
The Shark Tank Comeback
If you want proof that Mark Singer is still alive and kicking, look at his 2023 appearance on Shark Tank. He showed up to pitch EyeWris—reading glasses that wrap around your wrist like a watch.
He looked great.
He was sharp, focused, and clearly hadn't lost his itch for inventing. During the pitch, he even mentioned his history with Gorilla Glue. The Sharks were practically tripping over themselves once they realized who he was. Daymond John and the rest of the crew ended up making a deal because, well, you don't bet against the guy who already built one of the most successful hardware brands in history.
What Mark Singer is Doing in 2026
Mark isn't sitting in a rocking chair. He’s still active in the design world. His son, Kenzo, handles much of the day-to-day for their new ventures, but Mark is still the "creative engine." He still identifies primarily as a woodworker.
It’s actually kinda cool when you think about it. Most guys who hit a "home run" like Gorilla Glue would have retired and never worked a day again. But Mark seems to be one of those people who just has to build things. Whether it's a teak chair or a new way to carry your glasses, he’s constantly tinkering.
Clearing Up the Rumors
Let’s be real—sometimes people confuse "Mark Singer" with the "Gorilla Glue Girl" incident from a few years back. You remember that? The woman who used the spray adhesive as hairspray? That went viral for all the wrong reasons. Because the brand name was in the news so much, people started Googling "Gorilla Glue owner" and "is he still alive" as if there was some tragedy involved.
There wasn't.
Mark hasn't owned the company in over 25 years. He wasn't involved in the PR side of that mess. He’s just a guy in California who likes making things that work.
The Takeaway
If you’re looking for the status of the founder, here’s the deal:
- Mark Singer Gorilla Glue still alive? Yes.
- Is he still running the company? No, he sold it in 1999 to the Ragland family.
- What is he doing now? Designing furniture and running EyeWris with his son.
- Is he a billionaire? Probably not a billionaire, but selling the rights to Gorilla Glue certainly didn't hurt his bank account.
The story of Mark Singer is a classic example of an entrepreneur who saw something cool, brought it to the masses, and then moved on to the next challenge. He didn't get swallowed up by his own brand. He stayed a maker.
Next time you’re gluing a broken chair leg, you can feel good knowing the guy who started the whole "Gorilla" craze is still out there, probably in a workshop somewhere, coming up with something new.
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Actionable Insights for You:
If you're inspired by Mark's story, the biggest lesson is in spotting utility. He didn't invent polyurethane; he recognized that a specific audience (U.S. woodworkers) needed a better solution than what was currently on the shelf. If you’re looking to start a business or bring a product to market, look at what’s working in other industries or countries and see if it solves a problem in your own backyard.
Also, don't be afraid to exit. Mark sold the company when it was still relatively small, which allowed him to fund a lifetime of other creative pursuits. Sometimes, letting go of your first "big thing" is exactly what you need to do to find your next one.