The wealthy husband-and-wife co-founders of the plant-based supplement brand Cymbiotika were reportedly held at gunpoint with their young children during a frightening home invasion in Cannes.
Shahab Elmi, Durana Elmi and their two minor children had rented a home in France while attending the Cannes Lions International Festival when the terrifying break-in happened early Thursday morning, according to The California Post.
Three masked men armed with weapons allegedly forced their way into the family’s rental home and held them at gunpoint before fleeing with valuables.
The stolen items reportedly included expensive watches, jewelry, cash and other luxury goods.
A representative for the family confirmed the incident and said the Elmis had been in Cannes for a major wellness event tied to the international festival.
“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,” the rep told The California Post.
The spokesperson also noted that Durana Elmi, Cymbiotika’s co-founder and CXO/CCO, had lived out a childhood dream while in Cannes by meeting Oprah Winfrey.
But the glamorous trip took a frightening turn after the family returned from an evening of meetings.
“Unfortunately, after an evening of meetings at Cannes Lions, the Elmi family was targeted in a frightening home invasion at gunpoint,” the rep said. “Thankfully, the family is safe. At this time, the Elmi family asks for privacy as they process and heal from this traumatic incident.”
Durana had shared her meeting with Winfrey during the trip, writing about the power of women coming together with purpose.
“There is something extraordinary about women coming together with intention,” she said.
Cymbiotika, based in San Diego, was founded in 2018 by Shahab Elmi, Durana Elmi and wellness entrepreneur Chervin Jafarieh. The company has quickly become one of the biggest names in the wellness space, known for its plant-based supplements and high-profile following.
In October 2025, Cymbiotika expanded into every Target store nationwide, raised $25 million in fresh funding and attracted celebrity investors including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Zac Efron.
The company says it has sold more than 100 million supplement packets, with the Target launch marking its largest retail expansion so far.
Its roster of celebrity backers also includes The Weeknd, Post Malone, the Jonas Brothers, Miami hospitality mogul David Grutman and Shark Tank investor Daymond John.
The scary incident comes as France continues to see robberies targeting wealthy and high-profile visitors, especially during major international events.
One of the most infamous cases involved Kim Kardashian, who was tied up at gunpoint and robbed of roughly $10 million in jewelry while staying in Paris during Fashion Week in 2016. That case came to a close in May 2025, when a Paris court convicted eight people nearly nine years after the heist.
In 2024, Tottenham Hotspur soccer star Yves Bissouma was attacked outside the luxury Hotel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes around 4 a.m. by thieves posing as fans. They used tear gas before stealing his Richard Mille watch, reportedly valued at $326,000.
Earlier this month, British social media star Ben Phillips was also robbed at gunpoint at an $11 million Cannes villa where he was staying with his girlfriend and friends. Phillips, who has more than 30 million followers across his platforms, said masked intruders stole about $2 million in luxury watches, jewelry and other valuables.
French authorities have warned that organized gangs often target affluent visitors during major events, particularly those seen wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
