Do we like them?

Do we like Monster Energy?

Makes Monster Energy drinks and other energy beverages; Monster Beverage Corp is based in Corona, California.

Our score: 4 out of 10. A very successful caffeine-drink business with a long record of health-related legal complaints. Our searches found nothing recent or strong on the good side, so we'd hold back.

Monster began as Hansen Natural. Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg bought the debt-laden soda maker in 1992, and it grew into the energy-drink giant we know. The OCBJ profile says Schlosberg is now sole CEO, with Sacks staying on as chairman.

Coca-Cola is a big shareholder. Its 2015 deal paid $2.15 billion for 16.7% of the company, and later profiles put the stake higher. The founders still hold a few percent each.

The drama is mostly about health. San Francisco's City Attorney sued over marketing and labelling, including claims about marketing to minors. Monster settled with no fine and no admission of wrongdoing, and agreed to keep certain practices. A family also sued, alleging their 14-year-old died after drinking two Monsters. Monster says that claim is without merit.

Monster has also been in court as the one complaining. In 2022 a California jury awarded it $293m against rival Bang Energy for false advertising. It also paid $16.3m to settle a shareholder suit over how it described a distribution deal. Our sources are mostly older, so we'd call this a cautious maybe.