Roger Rodas, a successful businessman, died in 2013 with actor Paul Walker in a car crash. Details about his fortune, spouse, kids, and untold facts explored.
Walker and Rodas were killed in an accident on November 30, 2013. Their 2005 Porsche Carrera GT unexpectedly crashed into a light pole and caught fire.
Roger Rodas, the man who died along with Paul Walker, is often overlooked due to Walker’s popularity.
Here’s everything we know about Roger Rodas, the man who was driving the car that crashed and claimed his and the Fast & Furious star’s lives – his net worth, cause of death, family, and more.
Who was Roger Rodas and what did he do for a living?
Roger Rodas was an American financial planner, philanthropist, and car enthusiast who owned the automobile company, Always Evolving.
He was born in 1975 and was an El Salvador native.
Rodas worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch as a managing director of wealth management.
According to his LinkedIn page, from 2010 to 2012, he was listed as one of America’s top 1,000 advisors by Barron’s every year.
Rodas rebuilt Walker’s portfolio as Walker was a client, according to Merill Lynch.
In Los Angeles, Rodas owned a racing store called Always Evolving. Additionally, he led its racing squad as captain.
According to the team website, Walker was identified as a driver.
The store published the following on Sunday on its Facebook page, per CNN: “Thank you all for your condolences and prayers while we mourn the loss of our loved ones.”
A comment from Natalie White under the post read: “RIP Paul and Roger. You two will be missed, and your lives will be remembered and shared in the memories you left behind in your friends, family, and fans.”
Who was Roger Rodas married to?
Roger Rodas was married to his wife, Kristine Rodas before he died leaving her a widow.
The love story of Kristine and Roger, including how they met, when they tied the knot, and how long they were together, remains undisclosed.
Kristine has stayed private following the death of her husband 10 years ago.
Currently, her age, what she does for a living, her family, and her educational background just to mention a few are scanty online.
However, she made the news after she sued Porsche, the sports car that claimed the lives of her spouse and actor Paul Walker.
Roger and Fast and Furious star Walker were driving a 2005 Carrera GT.
Kristine Rodas, who was married to auto racing shop owner Roger Rodas, had accused the German car manufacturer of producing faulty mechanics.
According to court files seen by The Blast, Rodas filed a notice on Friday explaining her suit has now been ‘settled in its entirety’, meaning the case can be concluded.
It is not the first time Kristine has sued Porsche – she filed a suit for wrongful death/product liability not long after her husband’s death.
But her argument that the car was ill-equipped to handle side impact was deemed moot since the fatal force came from the front when it hit the lamppost – as her expert confirmed.
How many children did Roger Rodas have?
The 38-year-old friend of Paul Walker who both died in an automobile accident in 2013 was a father at the time of his death.
He has two young children he shared with his wife Kristine.
The names and gender of their kids are undisclosed because they were minors at the time.
The 38-year-old native of El Salvador was regarded as a devoted husband and father, according to KCAL.
Jim Torp, an auto enthusiast who was attending the same charity function as Rodas and Walker, said that his young son was among the first to arrive at the site following the collision.
“I knew his son was heading towards the accident. And he got past me because he knew there was a fire and he wanted to see it. But he didn’t know it was his dad until he saw the car.”
How did Roger Rodas and Paul Walker meet?
Rodas met Walker at a California race club.
At the time of their meeting, CNN reported that Roger was driving a Porsche that Walker had previously owned.
“Soon the two were racing side by side,” and at one point teamed up “with two professional drivers in a pro-am 25-hour endurance race” in Thunder Hill, California, Merrill Lynch says on its website.
Rodas and Paul’s friendship blossomed and he became the actor’s financial adviser due to his background in finance.
What was Roger Rodas’ net worth?
Paul Walker’s friend and business partner, Roger Rodas made a decent fortune at the time of his passing in 2013 with the actor.
Rodas had an estimated net worth of between $5 million and $8 million.
He accrued his money from his car business Always Evolving, a racing shop in Los Angeles. In the company, he served as the owner as well as a captain of the racing team.
However, it is important to remember that his legacy extends far beyond monetary value. He was a philanthropist, a passionate car enthusiast, and an exceptional actor who captivated audiences worldwide.
Rodas had a charity of his own, raising money to help orphans and widows in El Salvador. Then, he and Walker created Reach Out Worldwide, a network of first responders who help in the wake of natural disasters. The organization was holding a charity event, which Rodas and Walker attended just before the car they were in crashed nearby.
How did Roger Rodas and Paul Walker die?
Paul and Rodas tragically died on November 30, 2013, in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, United States.
How old was Paul Walker when he died? At the time of his death, he was 40 years old. Roger Rodas, the man he died with was 38 years old and a native of El Salvador.
The duo died in an automobile accident.
Walker and his friend, Roger Rodas were returning from an event for Walker’s charity, Reach Out Worldwide, for victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
Rodas was driving his Porsche Carrera GT when he crashed into a concrete lamppost and a tree at high speed before the car caught fire, killing them both.
An investigation into the accident concluded the vehicle was traveling at 94mph in a 45mph zone.
A judge dismissed claims that Porsche was responsible for the deaths in 2016.
The judge stated that Rodas’ fatal injuries occurred when he and Paul collided during the crash, which a crash cage wouldn’t have prevented.
Judge Gutierrez added that “undisputed evidence” showed Rodas died from a fire caused by racing fuel.
Later, the actor’s cause of death was revealed as a combined effect of trauma and burns, leaving his family and film co-stars bereft.
A post-mortem revealed he had no drugs or alcohol in his system when he died.
He had broken bones throughout his body, including his jaw, arm, ribs, and pelvis.
Where is Paul Walker buried? The famed late actor was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.