Exclusive | Wealthy husband and wife founders of Cymbiotika robbed at gunpoint in terrifying home invasion

The wealthy husband and wife co-founders of the plant-based supplement brand Cymbiotika and their young children came face to face with armed home invaders in Cannes who escaped with cash and jewelry, The California Post has learned.

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Shahab Elmi, Durana Elmi and their two minor children had rented a home in France for the Cannes Lions International Festival.

Three armed masked men broke into their rental home early Thursday morning, holding the family at gunpoint and stealing several items.

Among the items reportedly stolen: valuable watches, jewelry, cash and luxury goods.

“Cymbiotika proudly brought wellness to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this week, creating meaningful conversations around health, innovation, and longevity with some of the world’s most influential voices. Cymbiotika Co-Founder and CXO/CCO lived her childhood dream by meeting her hero Oprah,” a rep for the family told The Post.

“Unfortunately, after an evening of meetings at Cannes Lions, the Elmi family was targeted in a frightening home invasion at gunpoint. Thankfully, the family is safe. At this time, the Elmi family asks for privacy as they process and heal from this traumatic incident,” they continued.

Durana Elmi met with Oprah Winfrey while in Cannes, posting about their encounter. “There is something extraordinary about women coming together with intention,” she said.

Cymbiotika, which is based in San Diego and founded in 2018 by the couple and wellness guru Chervin Jafarieh, has expanded rapidly.

In October 2025, the company expanded into every Target store nationwide, raising $25 million in fresh funding and attracting celebrity investors including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Zac Efron.

The company says it has sold more than 100 million supplement packets and its Target rollout marks its largest retail expansion to date.

The company’s rapid rise has attracted a roster of high-profile investors from across entertainment, music and business.

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Among them are global music superstar The Weeknd, chart-topping rapper Post Malone, pop trio the Jonas Brothers, Miami hospitality mogul David Grutman, whose Groot Hospitality empire includes some of the country’s hottest nightlife venues, and entrepreneur Daymond John, the Shark Tank investor and founder of fashion brand FUBU.

The celebrity backing has helped cement Cymbiotika’s status as one of the fastest-growing names in the wellness industry.

There have been several robberies targeting affluent, high-profile visitors to France, the most infamous being Kim Kardashian’s 2016 ordeal, when she was tied up at gunpoint and robbed of roughly $10 million in jewelry while staying in Paris during Fashion Week.

Kardashian’s case was only brought to a close in May 2025, when a Paris court convicted eight people over the $10 million heist, nearly nine years after the robbery.

In 2024, Tottenham Hotspur soccer star Yves Bissouma was attacked outside the luxury Hotel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes at 4am, where thieves posing as fans wanting a selfie used tear gas before stealing his Richard Mille watch, valued at $326,000.

French authorities have long warned that organized gangs target wealthy visitors during major international events, particularly those wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

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Earlier this month, British social media star Ben Phillips, who boasts more than 30 million followers across his online platforms, was robbed at gunpoint of about $2 million in luxury watches, jewelry and other valuables at the lavish $11 million Cannes villa where he was staying with his girlfriend, Lowri Clark, and three friends

At about 11:30 p.m., he heard noises coming from upstairs but initially assumed they were being made by a cleaner.

Instead, he came face-to-face with three masked intruders, who he later recalled were frantically filling bags with valuables while one of the men held a gun to his head.

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French authorities later arrested five suspects in connection with the robbery.