Richard M. DeVos, Sr.
Co-Founder, Amway Corp.
Owner and Chairman, NBA Orlando Magic
Holland, Michigan
Manalapan, Florida
 
Richard (Rich) M. DeVos was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School and attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids. He served in the United States Air Force from 1944 to 1946. In 1953, DeVos married the former Helen Van Wesep of Grand Rapids. They have four children and fifteen grandchildren.

In 1949, Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel formed the Ja-Ri Corporation and began distributing products on a direct sales basis. In 1959, he founded Amway Corporation with Mr. Van Andel.

In October 2000, Amway became one of four subsidiaries under a new parent company called Alticor, along with three sister companies: Quixtar Inc., a Web-based business in North America; Access Business Group LLC, a business service provider; and Pyxis Innovations Inc., a corporate resource for new business and product ideas.

A renowned speaker, Rich DeVos has appeared before hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. His recorded talk, "Selling America," received the Alexander Hamilton Award for Economic Education from the Freedoms Foundation. He has written three books: BELIEVE!, Compassionate Capitalism, and most recently Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life.

Hope From My Heart describes the life-changing experience of his heart transplant at age 71, and imparts ten lessons for life on subjects like persistence, confidence, optimism, respect, and faith.

In September 1991, Dr. DeVos and his family acquired the National Basketball Association's franchise, the Orlando Magic, of which he is Chairman. In April 1998, the DeVos family, through RDV Sports, was granted a WNBA franchise, the Orlando Magic.

Rich DeVos has had a long-standing history of civic involvement, which has been varied and ranges from past Member, Presidential Commission on AIDS to Board Member and Founding Chairman of the National Organization on Disability.

As a result of his life of example and service, Dr. DeVos has received numerous awards and honors including an honorary doctorate degree from Northwood University and Northwood's 1983 Outstanding Business Leader Award.