Richard M. DeVos Biography Quotes 7 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Richard Marvin DeVos, widely known as Rich DeVos, was born in 1926 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, into a Dutch American community noted for its strong work ethic, church life, and civic commitment. He attended Grand Rapids Christian High School, where he formed a lifelong friendship with Jay Van Andel, a partnership that would define both men's public lives. After wartime years and local business experiments, he attended Calvin College (now Calvin University) in Grand Rapids. Ambitious and energetic, he pursued entrepreneurship early, selling products and testing small ventures that sharpened his instincts for sales, motivation, and organization.

Early Ventures with Jay Van Andel
DeVos and Jay Van Andel began working together as young men, operating small enterprises that included a burger stand and a flight school idea, each an apprenticeship in risk and responsibility. In the late 1940s they became distributors for Nutrilite dietary supplements, gaining firsthand experience with direct selling and the power of independent distributors supported by training and incentives. These formative years shaped the business model that would become their hallmark: building a network of entrepreneurs who succeeded by helping others succeed.

Founding and Growth of Amway
In 1959, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel co-founded Amway (short for "American Way") to market household and personal-care products using a multi-level direct-sales system. The company's early success selling cleaning agents and other consumables reflected the founders' conviction that everyday goods, backed by a robust training culture, could anchor a worldwide opportunity for small business owners. As Amway expanded during the 1960s and 1970s, DeVos led with a contagious optimism, speaking frequently to distributors about free enterprise, responsibility, and the importance of faith and family.

Amway's growth brought scrutiny as well as acclaim. The company faced regulatory review, most notably a Federal Trade Commission case in the 1970s that scrutinized its practices but ultimately distinguished Amway from an illegal pyramid scheme while prompting reforms. DeVos embraced compliance and training as necessities for the system's credibility, and the business continued to expand across international markets.

Leadership, Succession, and Corporate Evolution
In later decades, Amway's leadership broadened to include the founders' children, reflecting a deliberate succession plan. Richard's sons played prominent roles: Dick DeVos served in senior leadership, and Douglas (Doug) DeVos became president. The business ultimately organized into a broader corporate family under Alticor, with Amway continuing as the flagship brand. The co-founders' partnership also extended to a second generation: Steve Van Andel, Jay's son, entered top leadership, working closely with Doug DeVos to steer the company through global growth, technology change, and evolving regulations. The continuity of the DeVos and Van Andel families reinforced the company's culture of mentorship and community.

Sports Ownership and Community Impact
Beyond direct selling, Rich DeVos became an influential figure in professional sports. In 1991 he acquired the NBA's Orlando Magic, viewing the franchise as both a business and a civic enterprise. Under RDV Sports, a family-controlled organization, the Magic became a focal point for community development in central Florida. DeVos's son Dan DeVos later served as chairman of the Magic, and his son-in-law Bob Vander Weide led the team as a top executive, reflecting the family's hands-on approach. The Magic's charitable initiatives and engagement with youth and education mirrored the DeVos family's broader philanthropy.

Philanthropy and Civic Engagement
Philanthropy became an enduring pillar of Rich and Helen DeVos's public life. Through the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation and related family philanthropies, they supported education, health care, faith-based organizations, the arts, and urban revitalization in West Michigan and beyond. The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids stands as a signature example of their commitment to pediatric care and the regional medical community. In the civic realm, the family supported cultural venues and public spaces, including projects that bear their name, reinforcing their belief that private giving could catalyze public good.

Rich and Helen often approached philanthropy as partnership: finding leaders, equipping institutions, and expecting measurable community outcomes. Their children carried forward that vision, with Dick DeVos and his wife, Betsy DeVos, becoming particularly visible in education reform debates and national politics. The family's initiatives sometimes stirred controversy, but DeVos consistently argued that philanthropy and political engagement were essential expressions of citizenship and values.

Ideas, Writing, and Public Voice
DeVos became a prominent spokesman for what he called compassionate capitalism, contending that free enterprise, anchored in ethical responsibility, lifts individuals and communities. He authored several books to articulate these views and to encourage personal development among entrepreneurs and civic leaders. Works such as Compassionate Capitalism and Hope From My Heart combined business philosophy with lessons from adversity, including his own serious health challenges later in life. He also penned a memoir, sharing the practical and moral framework that guided him through decades of leadership.

Personal Life and Family
Rich DeVos married Helen Van Wesep in 1953, a partnership that endured until her passing in 2017. Together they raised four children: Dick, Dan, Doug, and Cheri. Their family ties ran through the enterprises they built and supported; business decisions, philanthropic commitments, and community projects frequently involved their children and, in time, their grandchildren. The family's visibility grew nationally as Dick DeVos entered politics and Betsy DeVos became a leading figure in education policy, reflecting a shared belief that leadership requires engagement beyond the boardroom.

Health, Resilience, and Final Years
In his later years, DeVos confronted significant health challenges, including a heart transplant that he credited with granting him additional time and perspective. He used that period to deepen philanthropic commitments, mentor emerging leaders in the business, and reflect publicly on gratitude, responsibility, and faith. He remained engaged with Amway's culture, the Orlando Magic's community ties, and the family's foundations, even as day-to-day leadership transitioned to the next generation.

Rich DeVos died in 2018 in Michigan, leaving behind a far-reaching legacy that spanned enterprise, philanthropy, sports, and civic life. Those closest to him, Helen, their children, and longtime partner Jay Van Andel and the Van Andel family, were central to his story. Together they built institutions that shaped communities from West Michigan to Central Florida and nurtured a multi-generational leadership model. For DeVos, success meant more than market share: it meant creating opportunity, strengthening families, and investing in the civic fabric of the places he called home.

Our collection contains 7 quotes who is written by Richard, under the main topics: Motivational - Meaning of Life - Life - Perseverance.