Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh Speaks Onstage

Tony Hsieh, man who introduced advertising to the internet, dead at 46

The former Zappos CEO played a major role in the redevelopment of downtown Las Vegas in recent years.

Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos.com who pioneered internet advertising and revolutionized the shoe business, died on Friday aged 46. He was with family at the time.

Hsieh had retired from Zappos, the iconic online shoe retailer, earlier this year after 21 years. He'd also been a key figure in revitalizing downtown Las Vegas, as well as an inspiration to other entrepreneurs.

"It is with very heavy hearts that we are sharing some very sad news with all of you, as we have learned that Tony passed away earlier today," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a letter posted to the company's website.

"Though Tony retired this past summer, we know what a tremendous impact he has had on both Zappos and on Zapponians, as he has dedicated the past 20 years focusing on the success of both the company and our employees."

His cause of death has not been announced.

Hsieh is widely regarded as the man who brought advertising to the internet through advertising network LinkExchange, which he co-founded in 1996.

Microsoft purchased LinkExchange for $265 million in 1998 when Hsieh was just 24 years old. He went on to invest $500,000 in ShoeSite.com in 1999, an idea conceived by a younger entrepreneur, Nick Swinmurn.

The name was soon changed to Zappos and it became a pioneer of ecommerce. The company was sold to Amazon in 2009 for 10 million shares of stock, which Hsieh said were worth $1.2 billion at the time.

As CEO of Zappos, Hsieh was famous for his emphasis on customer service and the company was widely praised for its treatment of employees. Hsieh also wrote a New York Times best-selling book Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose.

"A lot of our growth and innovation moving forward will be based on thinking about what we're in the business of differently," Hsieh told Footwear News last year. "We used to say we're a service company that just happens to sell shoes, and now it's turned into: We're a service company that just happens to sell blank."

Hsieh later focused on revitalizing parts of Las Vegas, where Zappos was based. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak offered his condolences overnight and praised Hsieh's work in the state.

"Tony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas," Sisolak tweeted. "Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony's family and friends during this difficult time."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×