Becoming America's Richest Self-Made Woman: How Diane Hendricks Built Her ABC Supply Empire | Forbes

"I felt like I was risking it all," says Diane Hendricks, the richest self-made woman in America. In this interview, Hendricks describes how she built her ABC Supply empire without family money nor a college degree.
Diane Hendricks chairs ABC Supply, one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing, siding and windows in America. Hendricks cofounded the business with her late husband, Ken, in Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1982. She has run it since his death in 2007. She led ABC to make the two biggest acquisitions in its history, buying rival Bradco in 2010 and building materials distributor L&W Supply in 2016. The company has nearly 800 branch locations and nearly $15 billion in 2021 revenues. Hendricks sold custom homes for a builder before meeting Ken, a roofer. She has spent millions on local economic development, rebuilding entire blocks in Beloit and bringing in several new businesses to the state.
0:00 "You quit, you're done."
0:38 Leaving The Family Farm For Entrepreneurship
1:33 Navigating Early-Life Obstacles
3:19 Starting ABC Supply With Ken And Finding The Market Need
7:23 How A Wisconsin Town Became A Key Entrepreneurial Opportunity For Hendricks
9:15 How Hendricks Came Out Of The 2008 Financial Crisis On Top
13:13 Hendricks' Lessons From Running An Incubator
14:17 What Hendricks Looks For In An Acquisition To Know It's The Right Fit For ABC Supply
15:26 Hendricks' Best Idea? Schools In Beloite, WI
17:51 Reflecting On Her Decades-Long Career And Lessons Learned
19:21 The Legacy Hendricks Wants To Leave
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[@E.l.u.s.i.v.e_e]

It’s the fact she states she doesn’t need the recognition 🥺 she is so humble 💖

[@blueshirtblueshirt]

How does incredible story have so few comments and views. Such a classic American story.

[@mamaboz]

Her husband was my babysitter when he was a teenager Later I worked for ken and Diane cleaning apartments to ready for rent. She was the nicest kindest most reasonable person to work for as an employee I had one of the nicest places to live in and very low rent. She is a beautiful woman inside and out. Ken and her were a wonderful couple and made a great team. I can tell you who the brains of the couple were😂😂. Both were wonderful people. She never acted like a rich snob money didnt change her as a person..She is a generous person....when my ex came home from prison 1982 she never hesitated to give him a job and I believe because of her he never went back to his life before.

[@thomasprince7487]

This Lady is so humble and genuine. Smart... This shows you can be the very successful without a degree if you work hard and believe in yourself.

[@RR-et6zp]

shes not self made at all. She inherited

[@philipmedina567]

Thank you Diane for all you and Ken have built!! What a legacy!! # 397 Sacramento

[@cassandrathatsme4382]

What an inspiration! I love this lady!

[@RR-et6zp]

shes not self made at all. She inherited

[@cassandrathatsme4382]

@RR-et6zp What do you get out of saying something negative about someone positive? I wrote that a year ago, and I still like her. She says she was from a family of 9 kids. So who did she inherit from? Unless you mean her husband who she built the business with so she was an equal. So curious as to what I said a year ago that made you try to correct me a year later. I'm betting you have done less than 1% of what she has done, yet you feel so good about yourself saying something negative. Bless your heart. And I'm betting you inherited too. And it isn't good.

[@RR-et6zp]

@@cassandrathatsme4382 it's not negative, it's just a fact. She was never an equal and she was interested in him because he wasn't

[@RR-et6zp]

@@cassandrathatsme4382 it's not negative, it's just a fact. She was never an equal and she was interested in him because he wasn't. The other thing is that when you say that, you want the same benefits without the same level of responsibility and accountability

[@RosaLei]

Thank you for this! She is incredible and a horsewoman too! Just like Brad Jacobs wrote a new book How to Make a Few Billion Dollars... I'd buy her advice when she decides to share it, regardless, we have to figure our own dreams out anyway, I would love more insights on her mind sets, strategies, and playbooks. 🤑

[@Grandizer8989]

Good for you.. you can meet up with her at Mar Largo with her orange boyfriend

[@sweetstorm7652]

She’s so beautiful and brilliant, the interviewer too❤️

[@itsmichele]

So extremely inspirational!!! Diane is the role model of a successful female that I'd like to emulate. She's amazing👑

[@erwinvarga]

Hugs dear Diane! CONGRATULATIONS my divine star, Diane! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@priscillamacdougall8883]

Of course she’s keeping working. When you love your work and it gives your life meaning you keep doing it!

[@robertallan8407]

Hello

[@Neverflat]

​@@robertallan8407it's me what you looking for!!

[@RR-et6zp]

shes not self made at all. She inherited

[@mamaboz]

If you love what you do. You will never work a day in your life.

[@mamaboz]

​@@RR-et6zpKen came from money But Diane worked beside him. She was a natural born business woman. If not for her Ken would not have been as successful. I Knew Ken and family way before Diane. And yes I know how they met..

[@wendyparadise3290]

Sweet and Smart.

[@todd-7819]

What a fantastic person inside and out.

[@joshuatan-singersongwriter9910]

Wow, and she had SEVEN kids too! Has achieved it all!

[@DrCharlesMeridian-mx4ik]

Can billionaires ever hear from the right person that are being abused???? Most likely they never will!!!!!

[@cool_guy_Vaibhav]

Omg she is 76 ! And still working 🔥🔥

[@JaylenPotts-zs2qw]

Wow she grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Now she has a net worth of 20.9 Billion.

[@darylerobynebennettsmith38]

She’s remarkable!! One woman I need to meet!😊

[@JacksonStorms-mv7yb]

God bless this woman...yall just dont understand how much she cares about her community...politics aside...she is a future saint. She talks the talks AND walks the walk.

[@RR-et6zp]

shes not self made at all. She inherited

[@paulasantiago3306]

She’s beautiful

[@elgastsos210]

ABC ruined a buddies plumbing company. Prices skyrocketed to pay the new 6 additional Ceo's.

[@shawndraa.felder9960]

❤️💕❤️💕❤️

[@maltlickymalitia4809]

So it was Ken’s business she fell into.

[@mbrntly11]

Again there is no such thing as Self Made, Folks who Brought your Products, or Services made you Wealthy@

[@huhwhatomg]

self made? U mean her husband started the business and brought her in

[@tomboone201]

Well at least we know who's keeps buying & closing local companies.. or changes those names to ABC then close most outlets so your drive to get supplies outrageous..

[@tamarawarren2591]

Ok Playboy bunny to boss ❤

[@baheegdeek3138]

Her husband built ABC. Lets be honest here.

[@Gracekeys5]

So what ? The two became one!!

[@speednc10]

False, she wouldn’t be where she was if it weren’t for Ken.

[@jreamscape]

do you think Ken would have gotten ABC as big as it is without her?

[@RR-et6zp]

shes not self made at all

[@wghannam1982]

Cry harder

[@RR-et6zp]

@@wghannam1982 lol, get real . She waited at the finish line and picked the winner

[@Neverflat]

If you're rich you're blessed, if you're poor, that's your problem 😂, why you not work hard, study hard etc.

[@scotts8389]

But her company will fire you for talking on the phone as a driver. Camera in the truck. Does she talk on the phone while driving???

[@rrob1399]

Isn’t it the federal law that states you cannot operate a commercial vehicle with a handheld device? That’s why all ABC drivers have the ability to use a headset

[@Inanothertimeandspace]

Yeah. That makes sense to me. I’d fire you too.

[@mmalmosa]

I think they made the right decision to fire you.

[@luisferreira522]

Lol😂 isn't the law bud!