His unfortunate demise resulted from injuries sustained in a house fire on November 18 in New London, Connecticut, as confirmed by Megan Fazio, a spokeswoman from DTP Companies, a Downtown Project in Las Vegas that Hsieh oversaw.
Hsieh was visiting family in Connecticut at the time of the incident and was surrounded by friends and family when he peacefully passed away.
«Tony’s kindness and boundless generosity left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he touched, brightening our world,» said a statement from DTP Companies. «His commitment to delivering happiness was unwavering, and in the spirit of his legacy, we invite you to join us in celebrating his remarkable life.»
Having dedicated over two decades to Zappos, Hsieh retired from his position as CEO in August. He initially joined the company in 1999 when it operated under the name ShoeSite.com.
In addition to his pivotal role at Zappos, Hsieh was deeply passionate about the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas and demonstrated this by pledging $350 million in 2013 for extensive redevelopment initiatives. In that same year, he relocated Zappos’s headquarters to the iconic former Las Vegas City Hall building.
«Tony Hsieh’s visionary leadership and extraordinary humanity have left an enduring legacy at Zappos,» expressed the online shoe retailer in a tribute shared on social media. «His spirit will forever remain an integral part of Zappos.»
Despite Zappos’s acquisition by Amazon for $1.2 billion US in 2009, Hsieh continued to actively contribute to the company until his retirement.
The tragic passing of Tony Hsieh has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes on social media, with notable figures such as Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, Ivanka Trump, Jimmy Kimmel, and many others honoring his memory.
