Tony Hsieh’s American Tragedy: Inside The Zappos Founder’s Final Months | Forbes

[@Times_Up_Chumps_Leeroy_Jenkins]

Met him a few times. He was a very nice, very humble & kind to everyone. He was definitely a man of the people. He flew coach & although I was an absolute nobody, he gave me his contact info & the few times I emailed he always responded. He created a great business & everyone I know that worked for him spoke highly of him. Sad loss indeed.

[@mrgyani]

Wow, no other billionaire would give you their email and their time like this..

[@Times_Up_Chumps_Leeroy_Jenkins]

@@mrgyani definitely a kind, gentle & genuine man. My heart goes out to his family & friends for their loss.

[@user-up9qh3fg1w]

​@@Times_Up_Chumps_Leeroy_Jenkins :(

[@anonymeister123]

@@mrgyaniMark Cuban used to do the same in the late 2000s

[@jason9875]

I read Tony’s book, “Delivering Happiness”, and it’s a terrific read about his career, life, and values.

[@davidwright873]

I would think that his life example would the the last one titled, "delivering happiness." and anything about him you'd wanna emulate. You'd be better off reading the Word of God imho....

[@jackiep5009]

The was the Zappos PR. You notice how the drugs were airbrushed out? He had problems going back to that San Francisco loft.

[@jason9875]

@@jackiep5009 A biography on him, “Wonder Boy” by Angel Au-Yeung, doesn’t skip it. He was delusional at the time he died, pretty sad way to go.

[@TIZNYC]

@celiaferreira2028 lol

[@Deelitee]

You can see the sadness in his face. Weird thing w gaining success, is then you don’t know who is backing you for the right reasons. This is so sad. 😢

[@freddyjisp9420]

That's called a hangover

[@Yulu-222]

i think only the really weak get like that like him

[@Deelitee]

@@freddyjisp9420 which is one of biggest signs of sadness… addiction does not disqualify one from humanity.

[@Will-xl7xp]

Money doesn’t change you- it amplifies who you are

[@freddyjisp9420]

@@Deelitee No, it makes them more human - But this book is not necessary. The man should be left to rest in peace and is only a 'book topic' because he was wealthy. The man holds no interest for me - I'm not against him but I don't really care that he killed himself. Look at the friends he had and how he treated his mother. He's a non-topic.

[@dn9597]

In all of his photos, his eyes look so sad and lonely even when he's surrounded by his "friends". It's true that "money can't buy happiness". I hope he found happiness in heaven🙏

[@victorynowall]

Was he a Christian???

[@ssuwandi3240]

Worst part is money easily buys the illusion. This is why being self grounded is more important than outside materials.

[@victorynowall]

Yes, provided he accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour!!

[@Dividenddream]

@@victorynowall No he was buddhist.

[@bennybee4447]

So sad 😢. Loved his talks years ago - about building his company and the culture he created. Never knew he had passed. RIP

[@freddyjisp9420]

Culture he created? The one that left him alone? Good one!

[@davidwright873]

The man sounds like an absolute fool. "A Fool and His money is quickly separated." Spock OS season 2 episode 7.

[@OUTNABOUTwithYoursTrulyLIZZOC]

It's so sad how Tony Hsieh success turned out, I learned of Tony Hsieh from watching my favourite show CBS Sunday Morning Show, they interviewed him and I was so impressed with his story! I learned of his passing months ago and I couldn't believe it and now watching this video as it came up on my KZbin page has sadden me to learn even his closes family took advantage of him. It's so unfortunate and true that you can't trust anyone in life, I don't have much of a healthy income just enough to get by and people around me have taken advantage of me. I can't imagine having the income Tony had to have so many people suck the life out of him, so shameful that these humans exist.

[@gemininorthnode8374]

This makes me want to cry. I am sorry, Tony, that you are not with us in the physical world. What you accomplished will live on. May you rest in power forever.

[@la381]

In other words, his friends USED HIM, ENABLED HIS DRUG USE, AND MANIPULATED HIM for money....

[@YTotwnow]

So sad. The world lost a kind good man. He needed someone whom he could trust and accepts him.❤

[@mommom3172]

He probably did need therapy. A good therapist could have helped him realize how hard he was being on himself. His compulsion to do more to find happiness and productivity lead to his demise. Very very sad.

[@GameFuMaster]

he found success by working hard, so his whole world view was that working hard gets you what you want, i.e. happiness. But being happy is ironically the opposite.

[@phototristan]

It just goes to show you all the money in the world can’t buy you happiness even if you convince yourself that it can.

[@sebastianniqvist3144]

He probably had a lot of childhood traumas and conflicts with his parents, it seems his relationship with his mother was particularly bad. All his problems were magnified by so much financial success. He was just spending massive amounts of money to buy people. It seems people saw him like a cash machine. Sad to say this but having a stable childhood can help you overcome 99% of your problems in adulthood. I see the world becoming a worse place due to children growing up in more broken homes and being abused by their parents.

[@nottheone582]

the internet and social media is also making life for young people a lot harder. like growing up not only with the pressure of your family's expectation, but your entire life a performance to be judged by strangers. gen Z/alpha will have to spend as much on therapy as millennials did on college

[@mommom3172]

Bingo! A secure childhood and skills to acknowledge and cope with emotions and get support is so much more important than academic and financial success.

[@jennifer12366]

Are you just guessing the relationship with his parents? Did you read his book?! Don’t assume something you don’t know.

[@en2336]

This is what people don't understand when they are against abortion. All those kids more likely than not grow up to be broken and hurt others

[@william420adam]

But also some of the best people you meet or that become really successful like Tony, come from these tougher backgrounds. You can't just magnify the bad in life and not understand the good that comes from the same exact situation. Thinking that if everyone just grew up in perfect households would give you no contrast to measure if it really is better or not

[@sameerhussain9437]

Back in 2009 I was in Chicago and one of my first onlie orders was a pair of geox leather sneakers in my size US13. When the box arrived I can say it was one of the happiest days of my life. Thanks to Tony for making that feeling and that day possible. Some people are larger than life and this world does not deserve them in it. May Allah bless you Jannah.

[@soniac578]

Zappos was the only company that I always buy the shoes from. The cust service always helpfull with my weird foot problem. I can try so many shoes and the return was a breeze.. Truly my life saver.. I am so shock when Tony die.. I do not know him.. yet I because his company was a bleesing.. I feel deeply sadden when he passed away..

[@annielee2172]

Adding on things on life seems all at surface level. The true happiness is from within and be content with it. Tony was very talented. Gone too soon.

[@emranh]

Heard about his story a while ago but this adds more detail to the tragedy of Hsieh not being able to fight off his inner people-pleasing demons in time.

[@KCNwokoye]

This is a man who just wanted to be happy and be loved. He would do anything just to make sure that people love him. Sadly it became too much. He just wanted to feel good.

[@ListerTube]

He has to learn to love himself first and trust that he's fine. Unfortunately he did not get the help his mum told him to get. So sorry to hear his story

[@ssuwandi3240]

True. He leaned that mommy love was equivalent to her order fulfillment.

[@CebiGreen]

Really sad. Mental health is everything. I can say this from my growing-up experience; as an Asian , I was raised with a mentality to always be the best, it was painful . I later unlearned it and determined not to put the pressure on kids. RIP Tony.

[@cremebrulee4759]

Good for you. That's a real accomplishment.

[@lewisburton1852]

“If you’re not first, you’re last!” -Ricky Bobby

[@joannsmith3589]

tragic thing about mental health issues, is that nobody can force you to get help... but then you don't have you all of your mind either to take the decision to get help...it must have been horrendous for his parents and family to see him go down like this, and not be able to do anything.

[@tanfrederika2123]

I get his vibe.. to genuinely be kind you first must have someone who can return your kindness.. So seek that person first. Its a thing about love. You can generate as much as you want but if some didnt comeback to you, you can perish

[@nottheone582]

I met tony a couple times at burning man and he was so sweet and kind. I got the feeling like he would give anyone the shirt off his back. wish him peace and rest ❤

[@inquisitvem6723]

He seemed so happy being married and living in RV as a Vegas resident. This was before the pandemic. Maybe the pandemic can be blamed for his downward spiral

[@giaa3473]

Burning man😜

[@bobbymoss6160]

So he was a drug addict.

[@CA2SD]

What's sad is that no one had the courage to be honest about what happened because he was surrounded by ppl that didn't wished the best for him.

[@nottheone582]

maybe they originally had good intentions, but money and greed corrupts. it takes a very strong person to not succumb to their baser instincts

[@FaithandNova]

There had to be a couple of honest ppl around him, thing is did he listen? You can't force grown ppl to do things they don't want to do.

[@Talkwithtina808]

How do you know that? They probably tried.

[@ssuwandi3240]

Where was the wife?

[@justinneilsonn2665]

I knew Tony personally from 2016-2018 . Thinking about his big heart and all the lives he changed makes me smile

[@nikapak9747]

Zappos has one of the best customer service imo. Tragic.😢

[@KCTran]

Great video. Love her last comment, "It's not about adding to your life, but taking stock of what you have and being ok with that."

[@jinogamez1024]

❤

[@DouglasLee9]

Gone too soon. I heard nothing but great things about him from articles and friends in Vegas that knew him closely. Sad to hear about people taking advantage of him. Money can attract those kinda people. Damn scavengers. We need more people like him. Prayers to his family and true friends.

[@laketuna]

What a tragedy. I read Tony’s book years ago and even drew inspiration from him at one point about working and being happy. He seemed like such a giver and genuinely a great guy. It’s a shame he didn’t have anybody to help him.

[@nwatson2773]

Clearly, he knew something was wrong and he refused to do the inner work. If you have to pay people to be around you, then you need NEW people!

[@prashanthb6521]

I really liked this guy. Its sad that he had to go thru so much of emotional pain.

[@xavia2142]

So tragic and sad.😢

[@EEZYEEEE]

The irony of writing a book about delivering happiness only to never be able to find happiness himself. RIP

[@Eric_Kabucha_]

This is super fuckin sad. I loved this guy. I always thought if I ever became a CEO, i’d be like him. RIP Tony 🙏🏾

[@yougetaspear7799]

You can do it💪🏿💪🏿

[@michelemurphy3541]

Heartbreaking.

[@glowrosh]

The most heartbreaking life existence I've ever known.😢

[@Jimhwilliams]

So terribly sad. I had no idea!

[@hagridlemonhead611]

Those people leeching off him, hope they live with this forever hanging over their head. RIP

[@emilyl1094]

They probably don't care since their pockets were already filled with his "free for all" money.

[@jchen127]

I admired him for founding a company rooted in a culture of employee well-being and customer satisfaction as most important. His vision proved that a company can achieve great success in an era when most others focus soley in shareholders and profits. I remembered buying a pair of shoes from zappos when they first started out. And eventhough it was a bit more expensive than their competitors, it did not bother me because i liked the company culture and felt good about it. I believe he had contributed to making this world a better place. RIP Tony!

[@igloozoo3771]

Most employees in large companies today however don't care about company cultures. They don't want their company to be their Church. They don't want to hear about their companies hypocritical woke diversity manifestos. They want to get paid what they are worth. They don't allow themselves to be emotionally attached to the company.

[@drshoexu]

I read his book Delivering Happiness about a decade ago. It was a great and inspiring read but one small thing that struck me back then that made me a bit uneasy was regarding his obsession with raves. He sounded like he was on some sort of drugs from how he described his rave experience. Years later when I heard that he has passed away and I was not surprised it might have been drug related.

[@TheaHFrancis]

Tony was a very kind and humble person in real life. It’s sad how all of these went.

[@juliawilkinson]

So strange and sad.. another story of someone who seems to have everything and still is not only not happy but depressed. I was so surprised when I heard of his death. And it happened around the time my own son died by suicide. I still don’t understand what happened. Will check out the book. Thanks for the video!

[@JohnLee-ot5ed]

As opposed to single women, single men seem to have shorter lift expectancy due to drugs, alcohol, and poor life style choices. Traditionally men are married and raising a family in their 30s. As they hit 40s, when your hormone changes, you experience fluctuation in your emotions. A stable family life anchors you, simplify your purpose which is to provide for your kid. This modern obsession with experiences, happiness, really does more harm than good. Sorry about your son. I did not see that until the end.

[@victorynowall]

All Earthlings have to know that "Success is only temporary" as long as we are on this earth.

[@stephanieallangarman5598]

All those people who were full of GREED…will REAP exactly WHAT THEY SOWED. No one can EXCUSE or JUSTIFY the GREED and EXTORTION of this man. This man really needed INTERVENTION. 😢❤ EVERYONE eventually REAPS ALL THEY SOW. What a TRAGEDY.

[@_zenprogrammer]

Rest in peace, friend.

[@tiffyjade690]

Business Genius! Good Human Being! Tragic Early Death! So Sad!

[@asepigun]

so sad, I read his book "Delivering Happiness" years ago and made it as one of my refference for managing my work business strategy

[@sophia4christ]

True peace and joy can only be found in a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. 🙏🏼

[@drewh3224]

Such a sad end.

[@carmendaniel3734]

RIP Tony❤So very sad. You think rich people have everything, but they don't. They have many "friends" to use them for financial gain. Makes me physically ill. The world is one sick place. You were more tham enough Tony. I wish you could have realized that.

[@kentmemories]

Happiness is within and here and now, not attached to something outside.

[@preciousone9377]

I use to check out Lavell at Stanford’s Club in St. Louis when he use to MC the talent show, and he would have the entire crowd HOLLERING!!! I’m so happy for his success as a comedian.

[@jamesbroderick5311]

"Take stock of what you have and like, understand that it's not about adding more to your life. It's just realising what is and being okay with it."

[@trudyaddis681]

Money loses its value when you have that much. He may have had a serious issue with self esteem

[@victorynowall]

What a tragic end! May he rest in peace. All earthlings have to know that " success is only temperory

[@BLUEGENE13]

He, i think was in a tremendous amount of pain. Rest in peace Tony

[@saralbudhiraja]

May God Bless his Soul. Seemed like a good soul

[@JuliaShalomJordan]

How tragic.😖🙏🏻🥺

[@nadanalia3000]

He has a kind face. So sad. RIP

[@fido9745]

They did him good with this piece. Sucks that I’m only aware after his tragedy.

[@ShyFly1000]

Great story. I’m grateful to be able to learn more about this enigmatic genius.

[@freddyjisp9420]

hahahhhahahhahahhah

[@Mar-ec7et]

One thing i saw from all his interviews is that he doesn't laugh. Maybe some smiles but never laughter.

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Seeking relief

[@danishpinay]

i read his book. i think he have adhd, he have too many ideas and projects at the same time.

[@lillyzhang4360]

I think he got lost at the later stage,he cannot find his purpose after his runaway success. Then drug/boredom took center stage and he just lost it, and most sad part is no one was there able to can help him

[@mommom3172]

​@@lillyzhang4360 A good book that is older but great concepts is Thrilled To Death. Anhedonia basically is burning out the pleasure center in thr brain and never finding satisfaction. It takes concerted effort to recover from.

[@susannecromwell3461]

Without the music..

[@STHAKL]

Why why! when he has so much money why get into drugs?

[@paker8moon962]

Inner lonely

[@glowrosh]

Money cannot buy inner happiness and peace of mind. That's one of the things we forget about in a rat chase of money.

[@ssuwandi3240]

The drug isn't the problem but the addiction kills. It's a slippery slop between self identity and belief system. You can deny being unhappy when the addiction takes over the health of one's mental state.

[@Mclem2k24]

When you believe in the power of the self there's an absence of fear there's no compulsion to control or struggle for approval or external power. Excerpt from the Law of Pure Potentiality and one of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

[@godnestgodest6265]

True happiness comes from uplifting the poorest of the poor! It's that simple.

[@a.money778]

I remember I used to watch zappos and zapposgear on KZbin for pumas when I was a kid cuz I wanted some and here I am years later finding out the founder of zappos passed away. Puma speedcats and adidas sambas are the wave rn

[@janicewolk6492]

How very sad. Hope he found peace.

[@yukonjackson5652]

Great documentary

[@Bambotb]

Without God, happiness is simply impossible

[@ladybug7967]

It’s true.

[@JuliaShalomJordan]

Yes.😖🙏🏻

[@Chris-cx6wl]

Not true. Happiness isn’t found more (or less) in religious people. While you might find happiness in it, it’s not true to say all would. In fact, to say to a stranger you know what would bring them happiness is quite offensive. Food for thought. Have a good day.

[@Moodboard39]

Agree

[@Moodboard39]

@@Chris-cx6wl Yea what? Material things? Suffering and death? What's your purpose?

[@slovokia]

Are we living in the age of cult business leaders? Do people like Tony have some special ability to motivate others that regular business leaders lack? Do those abilities come with flaws that ultimately result in some form of self destruction?

[@Uchihasasuk5]

Yes, it's called being human.

[@ssuwandi3240]

Name one great leader with zero Sociopath hint. Well none coz that would be a monk..

[@taisho32]

Relatable because I, too, deal with feeling not being 'enough' and look for external validation. I'm working on cognitive distortions and examining what I have and that's enough.

[@tjhsiao06]

I have the Audible version of the book. Strongly recommend it. This is the Third Audible book I bought about Tony. Having too much money and entourage of "Yes" man/women aournd him definitely not helping him. Lack of stable relationhsip and out of control alcohol consumption and substance abuse were DOA

[@ssuwandi3240]

What the other 2 books dwelled about ? Just curious..

[@imalrockme]

Nitrous Oxide inhaling, ... Paula Abdul shows .... pure insanity.

[@N-xi2zh]

Addiction? ADHD?? Craziness/ self destruction? Damn. RIP.

[@estrellaperpetuaishikawa6131]

There are people who are hungry for love, not find the meaning of life.

[@Moodboard39]

Because life is meaningless...

[@chrisg8995]

1. You said he offered people to double their best W2 and then you said he offered them to double their last W2. Which was it. And then no reporting on the house fire and what happened? Poor journalism.

[@phuongnguyen-qw6gl]

The music so cloud.😮

[@SodiqOlaniyi]

Contentment!

[@mikeymike7738]

So sad. Mental health is real

[@kendallevans4079]

Really all that needs to be said is "drug use".

[@gt2745]

No, mental illness.

[@armanib2b]

*Abuse

[@melmjetset1876]

does anyone know if he was buried?

[@Dividenddream]

He was cremated

[@McRambleOn]

So sad to see someone yearning for happiness for so long when it was right in front of them the whole time… How many of us can say our family relationships aren’t great and we struggle with issues like money & stability & even loneliness? But while this man had infinite resources, in the end what mattered… and should have mattered/meant more, were all the Ppl that genuinely and sincerely cared abt him- sometimes we need to remember the answer to life is not in trying to work for/obtain all the things we think we need/want to have… bc what we have already is simply, enough. Great message behind the video, & book as well... I think happiness is abt love and compassion, and it saddens me that he felt he didn’t have enough from those that mattered, although he had so much to give to others. The bro taking some money and big pay checks isn’t as problematic IMO, bc it seems like he was trying to watch out for him and ensure his interests were protected e.g. like from ppl acting like that assistant did, and who knows how much he had given the bro in the past or how much the bro had done for him without acknowledgment… when ur that rich, a million isnt a lot of money. He’s family so would have put his bro’s interests ahead of making money from him (it seems anyways); however those others ppl that were acting like leeches likely would have fed him more drugs to keep him incapacitated and handing out allowances- those “friends” & ppl that should/could have done more are the ones that have to try & sleep well at night… knowing who they are and what they did, & didn’t do... the moneys likely all gone by now (bc it always goes fast in situations like that) so one just has to ask, was it worth it? Shameful situation all around.

[@FiftyFive74]

I didn't even know he had passed away. And under sad circumstances.

[@davidwright873]

ive been to park city...It's great for a visit...wouldn't wanna live there....The Canyons is an awesome ski resort....

[@IreneBeauville]

So sad. :(

[@btienterprises9306]

Yea his eyes tell a lot

[@rrosen7370]

Unfortunate

[@j.t.5826]

Its sad because people only cared for him because of his success and money. If he didn't have anything, no one would even give him a look. Be careful who you hang around with and even built your company with. Way too young to die.

[@camposricardo86]

And yet people believe that happiness comes from money

[@faye91590]

He changed Downtown Las Vegas ❤

[@noellecms]

Have the killers been caught?

[@adjarhoabuoghenevovwero6446]

He needed help

[@FaithandNova]

He had all the resources to get help, did he want the help?

[@bridgetamato6182]

How sad. One, you can’t get anyone to stop using. They have to want it themselves. What a wasted talent. If you are smart you love yourself, respect yourself, and expect it from others with integrity like you;) I never understand people’s greed???!!!

[@Moodboard39]

When u force to know people in the business. Is draining... Other people do well, because they enjoy it... They strive on it

[@taradeleeuw2344]

So sad

[@christinet6336]

** Stop doing for self; start doing for those less fortunate. That is where one finds happiness and contentment. There are so many under-served communities in the United States (Native American, African American, Appalachia, Latino/Hispanic American, and yes... even some Asian communities). So many people to invest in (especially the children in these communities)... It seems like he was trying to get wealthy and upper-middle-class Americans to "like" him... and for what?

[@azv343]

Narcissism kills

[@koatzingo361]

When you’re wealthy and a celebrity everybody is your friend

[@johnnytran800]

I still dont believe any of this. He had plans to transform downtown vegas into a smart city and was heavily invested in crypto. His death is just fishy. Gotta follow the money…