A college dropout has risen to become the Japan’s latest billionaire after successfully building a global noodle empire. Money in udon: Takaya Awata, the 61-year-old founder and CEO of Toridoll Holdings, currently owns a 48% stake in the company valued at $1.1 billion. Toridoll, known for its "udon noodle" Marugame Seimen restaurant chain, has seen its shares surge by nearly 50% this year as the pandemic receded and dining out regained its allure.