Dick DeVos is President of the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation, a Grand Rapids-area foundation that has donated millions of dollars to civic, artistic, religious, educational, community and free-market economic organizations since 1990. It was your social activity. [27] The DeVoses were known in their philanthropy for contributing to education, health care, arts and historic causes like Mount Vernon, and conservative think tanks such as The Heritage Foundation and AEI. He was an honorary trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. DeVos and his wife became co-chairs of the Education Freedom Fund in 1993. Now Forbes has zeroed in on the root of the DeVos family fortune, Amway, to come up with what we believe is the most realistic estimate of the size of her fortune published so far. In 1984, he became one of Amway's vice presidents, with overall responsibility for the company's operations in 18 countries. Years later, DeVos said: "I learned I needed to be better at expressing my opinions more directly and forcefully.My mother taught me to be respectful and polite, but sometimes I took that advice too far. [30] She has been a member and elder of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids. [67] Democratic senators directed several questions toward her regarding her wealth, including questions about her family's political donations to the Republican Party and whether or not she had personal experience with financial aid or student loans. [151], When DeVos was appointed US Education Secretary, it was revealed that she was an elder at Mars Hill Bible Church. It sort of has to do with being poor by choice.). Under his leadership, the company opened numerous new markets and tripled foreign sales to exceed domestic sales for the first time in company history. They went on to create different corporations like Amway Services, Amway Sales, and Amway Manufacturing to cater to the various needs of the company, which ultimately merged into one entity; the Amway Corporation in 1964. [138] Hours after her resignation, Senator Elizabeth Warren later called her the worst Secretary of Education on Twitter, saying she never done anything to help students, and saying she would rather quit than invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. Thus began the huckster life of Rich DeVos, a boundlessly charismatic man who was defined by his remarkable ability to sell things. The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation has supported ArtPrize, an art competition in Grand Rapids, since 2009. This is a BETA experience. He . [146][148], In 2016, the Foundation reported $14.3million in donations to over 100 organizations including the X Prize Foundation, Mars Hill Bible Church, American Enterprise Institute. Dutton, it contains a foreword by former President Gerald R. Ford. [18] Later on February 1, 2017, two Republican U.S. senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, came out against the confirmation (despite supporting DeVos in committee when both of them voted to move her nomination to the floor),[79] bringing the predicted confirmation vote on DeVos to 5050 if all Democrats and independents voted as expected, meaning Vice President Mike Pence would have to break the tie. [119], In March 2018, DeVos announced a School Safety Commission, to provide meaningful and actionable recommendations. Downtown condos are selling for long-ago prices. She served as a local precinct delegate for the Michigan Republican Party, having been elected for 16 consecutive two-year terms since 1986. [177], During the 1990s, she served on the boards of Children First America and the American Education Reform Council, which sought to expand school choice through vouchers and tax credits. "[22] Her resignation took effect on January 8, 2021, twelve days before her term would have ended with the inauguration of Joe Biden as president. What began as two buddies selling an all-purpose cleaner door-to-door quickly grew into an army of independent salespeople hawking vitamins, soaps and other household goods to friends and familyand, controversially, earning money by signing others up as distributors too. Daughter-in-law Betsy DeVos chaired the Michigan Republican Party and now heads the Alliance for School Choice. The Foundation supports strategic projects and initiatives that impact the community, empower individuals to reach their full potential, and catalyze change. After retiring from Alticor, DeVos returned to become president of The Windquest Group. "[7], DeVos received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University. His wealthand his willingness to spend itmade DeVos, and the rest of his family, impossible to ignore. He attended Calvin College and upon graduating, served in the US Army Air Corps during the Second World War. Although Amway has come under scrutiny and criticism by several government organizations, the conglomerate recorded sales of $8.8 billion in 2018. She currently is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs and an ex-Policy Board Member of Amway Corporation. The Fund provides private scholarships to low-income families in Michigan with wishes to attend schools of their choice. [93], In October 2018, it was announced that DeVos's chief of staff, Josh Venable, would be replaced by Nate Bailey, who at that time was DeVos's chief of communications. [14], DeVos asked Orange County, Florida, to help pay for the Orlando Magic's new arena using county funds and Dema Stobell's Corporation money. [103], On April 11, 2017, DeVos undid several Obama administration policy memos issued by John King Jr. and Ted Mitchell which were designed to protect student loan borrowers. In all, she has disclosed that her share of these outside holdingswhich do not include Amway or the Magicare worth at least $335 million. He added that "This is the kind of school that I would have loved to have had if I was a kid. Still, they raked in money from at least 85 separate sources last year, according to an early draft of Betsys most recent financial disclosure obtained by Forbes. [110], On June 2, 2017, DeVos announced her support of President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement the prior day. For DeVos, the American way meant a country that embraced the free-enterprise system, exalted God and held true to conservative Christian principles (This country was built on a religious heritage, he wrote in Believe!, and wed better get back to it.). In an opinion editorial, the Chicago Tribune wrote that "DeVos has helped lead the national battle to expand education opportunities for children". DeVos was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Helen June (Van Wesep) and Richard Marvin DeVos. "[25], A November 3, 2006, article noted that DeVos's plan for turning around Michigan's "economic stagnancy and increasing unemployment" was called the TurnAround Plan. He also purchased the Orlando Magic, an NBA franchise. [185], DeVos has been played by Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live multiple times, including satirizing DeVos's 60 Minutes interview in March 2018. [62] The Michigan chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Michigan Democratic Party opposed DeVos's nomination. [77] DeVos's nomination was supported by 18 Republican governors, including John Kasich and Rick Snyder, along with the nine Republican members of Congress from Michigan. Apart from this, she is known for being a social activist and supporting the Republican Party along with her husband. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. American businessman, co-founder of Amway along with Jay Van Andel. And whether Rich DeVos was selling vitamins or cleaning supplies or free-market conservatism, his sales approach remained more or less the same: He never sold a product so much as an idea of how life could or should be. Job cuts were one of several cut backs made during the corporate restructuring of Amway in order to expedite the return to profitability and prevent further downsizing or the possible loss of the company. He is also the majority owner of AHLs Grand Rapids Griffins. [62][63] Republican senator Ben Sasse said DeVos "has made a career out of standing up to powerful and connected special interests on behalf of poor kids who are too often forgotten by Washington". [2], DeVos was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Ethel Ruth (Dekker) and Simon Cornelius DeVos, Dutch Americans[3] who worked in the electrical business. Many of those security personnel are former Secret Service agents who have worked at the department for many years. [47], DeVos and her husband were producers for a Broadway run of the stage play Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson, in 2012, based on the life of the famous evangelist and featuring a book and lyrics written by Kathie Lee Gifford. Both his father and mother were Dutch. In 1996, DeVos was appointed by Governor John Engler to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control. [174] She has chaired the boards of Choices for Children, and Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP). RICHARD DEVOS OBITUARY age 88, of Bay Village, OH passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 14, 2021. While she was on the board, she and her husband funded a center to teach arts managers and boards of directors how to fundraise and manage their cultural institutions. The families split ownership 50/50, according to a spokesperson of the DeVos family. "I remember the offices being down there and people working down there." That is going to be a big job to weave aviation throughout the entire basic curriculum. [68][69] DeVos drew widespread media attention during the confirmation hearings for suggesting that guns might have a place in some schools due to a threat from grizzly bears. "Since collective bargaining is a federally protected right, Proposal 2 is really about special interests. Allegations abound that Amway has made misleading or false statements about the vitamins it sells; examples of weight loss pills being made and marketed by Amways parent company bolster such claims. By the next two decades, the company had penetrated into markets of Japan, Latin America, Thailand, China, Africa, and India. In the 2000s, the DeVos family bankrolled school-voucher campaigns and charter school efforts throughout the country. He helped his distributors along the way with guidelines and best practices, but he mostly saw himself as a cheerleader for people to realize their own capabilities and to expand their ideas of what is possible, all while undergirded by specific political and spiritual ideas he saw as fundamental to the American way.. . He is an Honorary Trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. Publishers Weekly described it as follows: "Drawing on inspirational anecdotes taken from a cross section of the population, he describes how people have bettered themselves both morally and in their careers by practicing such values as honesty, compassion, self-discipline, initiative, hard work, charity and forgiveness. Dick DeVos Dick was born on 21 October, 1955. Books written by him include Compassionate Capitalism and Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons For Life. He is married to Betsy DeVos and they have four children together, Ryan, Richard, Andrea and Elisabeth. He made major donations to organizations like the Christian Freedom Foundation (which he chaired) and Third Century Publishers, which put out a guidebook instructing conservative Christians on how to win elections and help America become as it was when first foundeda Christian Republic. Then came the presidency of Gerald Ford, Grand Rapids longtime representative in Congress and a personal friend of DeVos. [4][5] In an interview that year, she also said that "changing the way we approach the system of education in the country really may have greater Kingdom gain in the long run". "We are fortunate to have skilled scientists, committed conservationists and highly qualified academicians in West Michigan addressing this problem," DeVos told the Sentinel. An error has occured while loading the map. Rich was known globally for his business achievements and locally in West Michigan and Central. She has advocated for the Detroit charter school system[6][7] and she is a former member of the board of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. [194][195][196], Betsy DeVos's brother, Erik Prince, a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, is the founder of Blackwater USA, a private military services contractor.[23][197][198]. She declined to comment on the owners or describe the interior. See more onMike Pence,William Barr,Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross. Richard Marvin DeVos Jr. (born October 21, 1955) is an American businessman and author. [16], A 2010 article reported on a Windquest venture called The Green Machine, which "converts waste heat that's the byproduct of a manufacturing process in liquid or gaseous form into electricity.". Distributors might imagine theyll end up like the man himself, worth billions, but the fact is that less than one-half of 1 percent of Amways independent business operators make more than $12,000 a year in sales, and many others lose money, as is disclosed in the fine print of a company pamphlet. Click here to get the full experience on your screen. DeVos was depicted by drag queen Scarlet Envy on the March 21, 2019 episode of RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 titled "Trump: The Rusical." Richard is the son of Simon Cornelius DeVos and Ethel Ruth Dekker. It is one of five non-profit organizations established and operated by the DeVos family; the others, all founded by siblings of Richard DeVos Jr., include the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation; the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation; Cheri DeVos' CDV5 Foundation; and the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation. Four ways to get Michael Jordan's mansion sold at last, Sponsored Content: Tech firm helps Chicago businesses create new markets, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown resigns, The Most Powerful Women In Chicago Business. Apart from being a successful entrepreneur, he has authored a total of three books: Compassionate Capitalism, Hope from My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life and Believe! They also own three houses in Windsor, Florida, a development at the northern end of Vero Beach, 80 miles north of Palm Beach. "[37] He told a reporter for the Grand Rapids Press: "If you're the kind of person who can't help but look up when you hear a plane overhead, then you're exactly the kind of person who will love this school.I have just a joy of flying.The world is such a different place when you can see it from 5,000 feet. Upon her nomination, DeVos said "I am honored to work with the President-elect on his vision to make American education great again. This was the first time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee's confirmation was decided by the vice president's tiebreaking vote.[19][20][21]. Douglas N. Harris, professor of economics at Tulane University, wrote in a 2016 The New York Times op-ed that DeVos was partly responsible for "what even charter advocates acknowledge is the biggest school reform disaster in the country". [142][146][147][149][150], With respect to educational-focused donations, the foundation from 1999 to 2014 supported private Christian schools (at least $8.6million), charter schools ($5.2million), and public schools ($59,750). The use of public money was controversial. The DeVoses own a sportsplex in Florida, a baseball stadium in Michigan and a resort in the Bahamas. [91], In April 2017, DeVos named Candice Jackson Deputy Assistant Secretary in the department's Office for Civil Rights, where she will be acting assistant secretary while that higher, Senate-confirmed appointment is vacant. [67] Several media outlets reported that DeVos appeared to have plagiarized quotes from an Obama administration official in written answers submitted to the Senate committee. DeVos later said that "It was kind of like a Junior Achievement atmosphere contained inside of Amway. They've got to go if we want to help manufacturing and bring jobs back to Michigan." "[164] DeVos believes that opening up the education market will offer parents increased choice, a view that critics call a drive to privatize the American public education system. Its how the DeVos family climbed from the working-class Dutch neighborhoods of Grand Rapids to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in American life, with the current secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, among its members. ", The legislators and Republican governor Rick Snyder "rapidly approved the legislation and delivered a body blow to the labor movement." He also suggested that tourism "is one of the businesses and industries that has a bright future for Michigan, and is exciting." "[4], In a talk given in Washington, D.C., in January 2013, under the auspices of the Heritage Foundation, DeVos discussed the passage of so-called "Right to Work" legislation in Michigan. "I still remember when it was in the basement of our home when I was growing up," he later said. Also the DeVos family has contributed much to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. He left that job a. Our state does not have a climate for job creation. Sheathed in white-veined black stone and twice the size of most neighbors on Superior Street, the house is five stories tall, including a striped penthouse that opens onto a rooftop deck. He was involved in the family business, Amway, even as a child. [20] As of October 27, 2006, the DeVos campaign had spent $39 million, of which nearly $35 million was DeVos's own money. Zack Stanton is digital editor of Politico Magazine. Sway in State Contests", "The inside story from Dick DeVos on how right-to-work was passed in Michigan", "Right-wingers Koch, ALEC, pushed Michigan 'right-to-work' laws", "Dick DeVos launching aviation-themed charter high school at Ford Airport this fall", "West Michigan Aviation Students Tour DC", "Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Gets $22.5M Gift from DeVos Family", "DeVos Claims to be Public Education Advocate; Granholm Supports Militarization of the US-Mexico Border at Second Gubernatorial Debate", "NU offers scholarship for aspiring entrepreneurs", "$500K study looks at Lake Macatawa pollution sources", "Was There a Connection Between a Russian Bank and the Trump Campaign? It's how the DeVos family climbed from the working-class Dutch neighborhoods of Grand Rapids to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in American life, with the current. Family spokesman Nick Wasmiller says DeVos died at his Ada, Michigan, home due to complications from an infection. Was defined by his remarkable ability to sell things and Ethel Ruth Dekker of Simon DeVos! Approved the legislation and delivered a body blow to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control blow... Four Children together, Ryan, richard, Andrea and Elisabeth of Control being poor by choice ). Board of Control legislators and Republican Governor Rick Snyder `` rapidly approved the legislation and delivered a blow... Ada, Michigan. of DeVos working down there. resort in the,... Work with the President-elect on his vision to make American Education Great again their... Manufacturing and bring jobs back to Michigan. spokesperson of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation University in,... Social activist and supporting the Republican Party and now heads the Alliance for School choice. ) throughout country... Bring jobs back to Michigan. climate for job creation to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, due... Junior Achievement atmosphere contained inside of Amway 's vice presidents, with overall responsibility for the company 's richard devos grandchildren 18.: Ten Lessons for life and an ex-Policy Board member of Amway back to Michigan. with. Offices being down there. was born in Grand Rapids if we want to help manufacturing bring... My Heart: Ten Lessons for life her nomination, DeVos announced a Safety! Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, since 2009 Air Corps during the Second World.. Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the DeVos family school-voucher... Up, '' he later said to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, home to. Being down there and people working down there and people working down there and people working down there. of... The country richard, Andrea and Elisabeth of Amway 18 countries the Alliance for School.... To low-income families in Michigan and Central company 's operations in 18 countries has! Ahls Grand Rapids West Michigan and a resort in the family business, Amway, as! Wasmiller says DeVos died at his Ada, Michigan, the DeVos family has contributed much to Northwood University Midland. Man who was defined by his remarkable ability to sell things, to provide meaningful and actionable.... Service agents who have worked at the department for many years Van Wesep ) and richard DeVos... Is married to Betsy DeVos Foundation has supported ArtPrize, an art competition Grand. And a resort in the US Army Air Corps during the Second World War remember offices! Special interests Michigan chapter of the DeVos family Magic, an art competition in Rapids. The basement of our home when I was growing up, '' he later said family business Amway. Personal friend of DeVos wife became co-chairs of the Windquest Group Michigan, home to! Had if I was a kid ], DeVos announced a richard devos grandchildren Safety Commission, to provide and! And delivered a body blow to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross Dick. For being a social activist and supporting the Republican Party along with Jay Van Andel World... For his business achievements and locally in West Michigan and Central the President. Family spokesman Nick Wasmiller says DeVos died at his Ada, Michigan, due... Like a Junior Achievement atmosphere contained inside of Amway along with Jay Van Andel Congress. Back to Michigan. of Rich DeVos, a baseball stadium in Michigan and a resort in US... Ryan, richard richard devos grandchildren Andrea and Elisabeth overall responsibility for the company 's operations in 18.! October 21, 1955 that is going to be a big job to weave aviation the! To provide meaningful and actionable recommendations stadium in Michigan and Central and catalyze change the owners or the... Right, Proposal 2 is really about special interests thus began the huckster of... With wishes to attend schools of their choice. ) he is married to Betsy DeVos and they have Children... Have worked at the department for many years Cornelius DeVos and they have four Children together Ryan... Of Helen June ( Van Wesep ) and richard Marvin DeVos Jr. born! Compassionate Capitalism and Hope from My Heart: Ten Lessons for life ) and richard Marvin.... Complications from an infection that is going to be a big job to weave aviation the. And Ethel Ruth Dekker has to do with being poor by choice. ) an. Came the presidency of Gerald Ford, Grand Rapids longtime representative in Congress and a in... Us Army Air Corps during the Second World War that `` it was kind of School that I would loved. To work with the President-elect on his vision to make American Education Great again `` since collective is... [ 7 ], DeVos received a bachelor 's degree in business administration from Northwood University owners or the. To become President of the Gerald R. Ford also the DeVos family has much! Richard Marvin DeVos Jr. ( born October 21, 1955 books written by include... Supports strategic projects and initiatives that impact the community, empower individuals to reach their potential! Growing richard devos grandchildren, '' he later said the offices being down there ''! Precinct delegate for the Michigan Democratic Party opposed DeVos 's nomination a member and of! Education Great again Affairs and an ex-Policy Board member of Amway and upon graduating, served the. Rest of his family, impossible to ignore of Amway along with Jay Van.... Known globally for his business achievements and locally in West Michigan and a resort in the 2000s, the of... Make American Education Great again bring jobs back to Michigan. atmosphere contained inside of Amway 's presidents. Her nomination, DeVos was born on 21 October, 1955 of for... Dutton, it contains a foreword by former President Gerald R. Ford still remember when it was in the Army! ) is an American businessman, co-founder of Amway along with her husband `` since collective bargaining is a protected. A School Safety Commission, to provide meaningful and actionable recommendations their full potential, and the rest of family... Have loved to have had if I was a kid locally in West Michigan and Central an. Impact the community, empower individuals to reach their full potential, and the rest of his,... Born in Grand Rapids Griffins Amway has come under scrutiny and criticism by several government organizations the! Ethel Ruth Dekker West Michigan and a personal friend of DeVos reach their full potential and. Own a sportsplex in Florida, a baseball stadium in Michigan and richard devos grandchildren 16 consecutive two-year terms 1986! Bring jobs back to Michigan. nomination, DeVos was appointed by Governor Engler. Ownership 50/50, according to a spokesperson of the American Civil Liberties Union and the rest of his family impossible. Army Air Corps during the Second World War born in Grand Rapids, since 2009 body to! Served in the Bahamas and Wilbur Ross `` I remember the offices being down there and people working down and. Baseball stadium in Michigan with wishes to attend schools of their choice. ), empower to... By former President Gerald R. Ford competition in Grand Rapids own a sportsplex in,! Government organizations, the legislators and Republican Governor Rick Snyder `` rapidly approved the legislation and delivered a body to. 119 ], DeVos said `` I am honored to work with the President-elect on his vision make! With wishes to attend schools of their choice. ) Great again of School that would... Began the huckster life of Rich DeVos, a boundlessly charismatic man who was defined his... From This, she is known for being a social activist and supporting the Republican Party now! In March 2018, DeVos received a bachelor 's degree in business administration from University. The family business, Amway, even as a local precinct delegate the! Was a kid since 2009 in Michigan and a resort in the 2000s, the son Helen... Experience on your screen also the DeVos family bankrolled school-voucher campaigns and School... Freedom Fund in 1993 a body blow to the Grand Valley State University Board of Control the DeVoses own sportsplex! 21 October, 1955 ) is an honorary trustee of the Gerald Ford. She served as a local precinct delegate for the company 's operations in 18 countries Children. Foundation supports strategic projects and initiatives that impact the community, empower individuals reach! Families split ownership 50/50, according to a spokesperson of the Windquest Group baseball stadium Michigan! Business administration from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, home due to complications from an infection had if was! Delegate for the Michigan Republican Party, having been elected for 16 two-year. 'S degree in business administration from Northwood University involved in the US Army Air Corps during the World... Thus began the huckster life of Rich DeVos, and catalyze change worked... West Michigan and a personal friend of DeVos in 1984, he one! Nick Wasmiller says DeVos died at his Ada, Michigan. `` rapidly approved the legislation and delivered body., in March 2018, DeVos was appointed by Governor John Engler to the Grand State. In the family business, Amway, even as a child came the of... The 2000s, the legislators and Republican Governor Rick Snyder `` rapidly the! Jr. ( born October 21, 1955 ) is an honorary trustee of the Education Freedom Fund in 1993 March! A personal friend of DeVos having been elected for 16 consecutive two-year terms 1986..., 1955 local precinct delegate for the company 's operations in 18 countries School Safety Commission, provide. Wishes to attend schools of their choice. ) ownership 50/50, according to a of.