Richard M. DeVos*

Rich DeVos was born in 1926 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and grew up during the Great Depression. He credited his interest in owning a business to his grandfather, who sold vegetables door to door, and to his father, who after losing his electrician job because of the Great Depression, always encouraged his son to go into business for himself.

DeVos's entrepreneurial spirit took root in a high school friendship with classmate Jay Van Andel. The two first dreamed of owning their own business when they were students at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Their friendship grew out of a business arrangement: DeVos paid Van Andel 25 cents a week for a ride to and from school in a 1931 Model A Ford.

After both returned from service overseas in World War II, their early entrepreneurial ventures included a flight school and one of Michigan's first drive-in restaurants. They sold both interests in 1948 to buy a sailboat in Connecticut with intentions to sail to the Caribbean, even though neither had any sailing experience. Their old wooden schooner sank off the coast of Cuba. A passing freighter rescued them, and they continued their adventure through South America.

The two friends founded Amway Corp. in their homes in 1959 with an all-purpose cleaner, L.O.C., as their only product. After the first year of business, they moved to an abandoned service station located at Amway's current headquarters in Ada, Michigan. Over four decades, they built their business into a multibillion-dollar international corporation and one of the world's largest direct selling companies.

Amway offers consumer products and business opportunities in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. The company also provides product development, manufacturing and logistics services through its Access Business Group and Alticor Corporate Enterprises divisions.

DeVos was succeeded as Amway's president in 1993 by his son Dick, and in 2002 by his son Doug. He remains active with the company as a prominent member of Amway's board of directors. DeVos also is chairman of the Orlando Magic. He is a sought-after public speaker and the author of four books: Believe!, Compassionate Capitalism, Hope From My Heart, and Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People. He and his wife, Helen, have to generously shared their success through their foundation.