Famous Quote
“Chase the vision, not the money. The money will end up following you.”
Why #81
Hsieh proved that company culture is a competitive advantage worth billions. Zappos' radical customer-first approach and its $1.2B acquisition by Amazon showed that 'delivering happiness' is a viable business strategy, not just a slogan.
The Story
Tony Hsieh turned Zappos from a struggling online shoe store into a $1.2 billion company and a business school case study on the power of corporate culture. His radical philosophy — that company culture is the most important product a business creates — influenced a generation of founders and executives who saw that happy employees create happy customers.
Hsieh's approach was unconventional to the point of seeming crazy. Zappos offered new employees $2,000 to quit after their first week (to weed out people who weren't genuinely committed). Customer service reps had no scripts and no time limits — one call famously lasted 10 hours. The company's Las Vegas headquarters featured a costume closet and a nap room. Amazon acquired Zappos for $1.2B in 2009, and Hsieh's book 'Delivering Happiness' became a bestseller that evangelized his culture-first approach.
After Amazon, Hsieh invested $350M of his own money in the Downtown Project, an attempt to revitalize downtown Las Vegas into a startup community. The project had mixed results. Hsieh died tragically in a house fire in 2020 at age 46. His legacy is the proof that radical customer service and genuine corporate culture can create massive business value.
Key Achievements
Built Zappos into a $1.2B company acquired by Amazon (2009)
Pioneered radical corporate culture — offered $2K for new employees to quit
Wrote 'Delivering Happiness' — bestseller on culture-driven business
Zappos customer service became legendary (10-hour phone calls, no scripts)
Invested $350M in Downtown Project to revitalize Las Vegas
Proved that culture and customer obsession create massive business value
By the Numbers
$1.2B
Zappos Acquisition
$350M
Downtown Project Investment
Millions
Book Sales
10+ Hours
Longest Customer Call
Fun Facts
He offered every new Zappos employee $2,000 to quit after their first week — to ensure only truly committed people stayed.
He moved Zappos from San Francisco to Las Vegas to build a unique company culture.
One Zappos customer service call lasted over 10 hours — the rep was not penalized.
Before Zappos, he co-founded LinkExchange and sold it to Microsoft for $265M at age 24.
He lived in a trailer park in Las Vegas by choice, not necessity — he valued community over luxury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time?
The greatest entrepreneurs include Steve Jobs (Apple), Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta). Each built companies that fundamentally changed how the world works — from personal computing and smartphones to e-commerce, cloud computing, and social media.
What makes someone a successful entrepreneur?
Successful entrepreneurs share several traits: the ability to identify unmet needs, willingness to take calculated risks, relentless execution, and resilience in the face of failure. They combine vision with practical problem-solving and are willing to persist long after most people would quit. Capital and credentials matter far less than most people think — resourcefulness beats resources.
Can you become an entrepreneur without a business degree?
Absolutely. Many of the greatest entrepreneurs had no business education. Steve Jobs dropped out of college. Richard Branson left school at 16. Sara Blakely was selling fax machines. Henry Ford had no formal engineering training. Jack Ma was an English teacher. What matters is not the degree — it is the ability to see an opportunity, build something people want, and persist through failure.
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