"I believe there's a wrong being done," says Wigand. "I believe I have the capacity and the knowledge to help right some wrong. And I want to do that. Now, you want to call it self-righteous. I want to call it passion."
But passion has its price. Wigand had earned $300,000 a year working for tobacco. Now, he makes $60,000 working against it. He says the stress from going public led his wife to divorce him. But today, his daughters love him for what he's doing — and he loves doing it.
"I don't think I've been this happy in a long time. I mean, I enjoy what I do, and I'm comfortable with myself," says Wigand. "Every day, I know I've something that makes a difference for another human being. And that makes you feel good.