Jay Van Andel

ABOUT JAY VAN ANDEL

Co-founder with Rich DeVos of the highly successful and controversial company Amway.

He and his longtime friend and business partner DeVos tried a drive-in restaurant and a charter airline business before launching Amway.

His key to success was a dedicated corps of salespeople who pitched the company's wares and recruited others to do the same.

He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He was a strong believer in free enterprise and a generous supporter of Republican causes. He also liked to sprinkle his motivational speeches with quotes from presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford .