Papillaud owned 51% of the Alma Group, which sells mineral water under the brandnames of Cristaline, MontBlanc, Saint-Yorre, Rozana, Chateldon and Vichy Célestins. In 2008, he sold the other 49% to the Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical for US$1.2 billion.
In September 2016, the New York Times reported that Pierre Papillaud demanded that the town of Weed, California give up its only water source so that Papillaud's bottle water company could have more water to sell as Cristaline.
Papillaud lived in Paris, France, until his death on 13 June 2017.
