Richard DeVos
Encyclopedia
Richard DeVos, Sr. is an American
businessman, co-founder of Amway
along with Jay Van Andel
(company restructured as Alticor
in 2000), and owner of the Orlando Magic
NBA basketball team. In 2011, Forbes
magazine listed him as the 79th wealthiest person in the United States, and the 254th richest in the world, with an estimated net worth of USD$ 4.2 billion. (At one point, he was in the top 10 of wealthiest Americans).
DeVos was educated at Calvin College
and is a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He served in the military in World War II
in the United States Army Air Corps
.
, titled Believe!.
's franchise basketball team, the Orlando Magic
, having bought the team in 1991. DeVos also formerly owned the Orlando Solar Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins
, and the Kansas City Blades
, three IHL franchises before that league folded; the Solar Bears & Blades were closed as a result of the league folding, while the Griffins moved to the AHL
, and are now under the ownership of Dan DeVos, one of Richard's sons.
Despite being an anti-tax Republican, DeVos saw fit to ask Orange County, FL to foot the bill for the Orlando Magic's new arena using tax dollars. Even though tax dollars largely funded this arena, it was still named the Amway Arena. This was especially controversial since DeVos could have easily paid for the arena out-of-pocket.
and has sat as president on the Council for National Policy
. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center
in Philadelphia, which is a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution.
, Cheri, and Doug. Richard Jr. was the Republican Party
nominee for governor of Michigan in 2006
, but was defeated by the then incumbent governor, Jennifer Granholm
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, co-founder of Amway
Amway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
along with Jay Van Andel
Jay Van Andel
Jay Van Andel was an American businessman best known as co-founder of the Amway Corporation, along with Richard DeVos. He also served as Chairman of the U.S...
(company restructured as Alticor
Alticor
Alticor is a privately held corporation, owned and run by members of the DeVos and Van Andel families. It was established in 1999 to serve as the parent company for a handful of business ventures, most notably the direct selling company Amway and Quixtar and a manufacturing and distribution...
in 2000), and owner of the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
NBA basketball team. In 2011, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine listed him as the 79th wealthiest person in the United States, and the 254th richest in the world, with an estimated net worth of USD$ 4.2 billion. (At one point, he was in the top 10 of wealthiest Americans).
DeVos was educated at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
and is a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He served in the military in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
.
Books
Books written by him include Compassionate Capitalism and Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons For Life. The latter reflects his feelings after successfully undergoing a heart transplant operation in 1997. This was preceded by two heart-bypass operations in 1983 and 1992. In 1975, DeVos published a book about his success, co-authored with Charles Paul ConnCharles Paul Conn
Charles Paul Conn is President of Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.Paul Conn became president of Lee University in 1986. During his presidency the university has seen significant growth in the form of increased enrollment, from 1,214 to just over 4,000 in the fall of 2006...
, titled Believe!.
Sports ownership
Richard DeVos is the owner of the National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's franchise basketball team, the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, having bought the team in 1991. DeVos also formerly owned the Orlando Solar Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
, and the Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
, three IHL franchises before that league folded; the Solar Bears & Blades were closed as a result of the league folding, while the Griffins moved to the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and are now under the ownership of Dan DeVos, one of Richard's sons.
Despite being an anti-tax Republican, DeVos saw fit to ask Orange County, FL to foot the bill for the Orlando Magic's new arena using tax dollars. Even though tax dollars largely funded this arena, it was still named the Amway Arena. This was especially controversial since DeVos could have easily paid for the arena out-of-pocket.
Boards
He sat on the board of trustees of Northwood UniversityNorthwood University
Northwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland, began in 2001...
and has sat as president on the Council for National Policy
Council for National Policy
The Council for National Policy , is an umbrella organization and networking group for social conservative activists in the United States...
. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center
National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is an organization that seeks to expand awareness and understanding of the United States Constitution and operates a museum to advance those purposes....
in Philadelphia, which is a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution.
Personal
In addition to Dan (owner of the Griffins), Richard DeVos is the father of Richard Jr.Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos is a businessman and Republican politician from Michigan. The son of billionaire Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he served as CEO of the multi-level marketing consumer goods distribution company from 1993–2002...
, Cheri, and Doug. Richard Jr. was the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for governor of Michigan in 2006
Michigan gubernatorial election, 2006
The Michigan gubernatorial election of 2006 was one of the 36 U.S. gubernatorial elections held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm was re-elected over Republican businessman Dick DeVos, Libertarian Gregory Creswell, Green Douglas Campbell, and U.S. Taxpayer Candidate...
, but was defeated by the then incumbent governor, Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician, educator, and author who served as Attorney General and 47th Governor of the U.S. state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor...
.
External links
- Profile at ForbesForbesForbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
- Richard DeVos' campaign contributions at Newsmeat