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In 2005, DeVos launched the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in the history of Michigan, totaling more than $41 million dollars. Ultimately, DeVos lost on November 7, 2006, to Democratic incumbent Jennifer Granholm.
Family and early lifeBorn in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S., Dick is a graduate of the Forest Hills public schools and received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University. He later attended, but did not graduate from, the Harvard Business School and the Wharton School's Executive Study Programs. His wife, Betsy DeVos, is the sister of Blackwater USA president Erik Prince and she is the former chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party. Betsy and Dick have four children: Rick, Elissa, Andrea, and Ryan.
Business activitiesDeVos began working with Amway Corporation in 1974, holding positions in various divisions, including research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and finance. In 1984, he became one of Amway's vice presidents, with responsibility for the company's operations in 18 countries. Under his leadership, the company opened new markets and tripled international sales to exceed domestic sales for the first time in company history. In a 1979 ruling, Amway was found by the Federal Trade Commission that its operations did not violate pyramid scheme prohibitions, but the company was ultimately sanctioned. The FTC now requires that Amway and Quixtar publish an SA4400, which shows that more than 99% of all distributors lose money each year. In 1989, DeVos left Amway to start a new business venture, The Windquest Group, a multi-company management group involved in the manufacture and marketing of storage and closet organizers. When the DeVos family acquired the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic basketball franchise in 1991, DeVos became president and CEO of the team. He left both positions in January 1993 to rejoin Amway as its president, succeeding his father, Amway co-founder Rich DeVos. In 2000, DeVos oversaw a corporate restructuring that created Alticor, the new parent company of predecessor Amway, as well as subsidiary companies Access Business Group and Quixtar. Under DeVos, Alticor expanded operations to more than 50 countries and territories on six continents. In a 20-month span, Alticor cut over 1,300 jobs (primarily in Michigan) during this restructuring, with 400 of them being buyouts and early retirement. 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.
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