Tony Hsieh, key figure in downtown Las Vegas revitalization, dies at age 46
By Eli Segall Special to the Pahrump Valley Times
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh speaks at the company’s All Hands employee event at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas on Aug. 9, 2012. (Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Jessica Ebelhar
In this Oct. 13, 2008 file photo, Vegas Young Professionals named Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, 34, its 2008 Mover and Shaker of the Year. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, File)
In this June 25, 2014, file photo, former President Bill Clinton, left, speaks with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh during a forum on the final day of the annual gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative America, at the Sheraton Downtown, in Denver. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)
People walk around the Downtown Container Park on the first day of its reopening in downtown Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Zappos office space is seen closed in downtown Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (Elizabeth Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Zappos C.E.O. and downtown Las Vegas developer Tony Hsieh, left, high fives La Comida co-owner Michael Morton during the open night party for the Mexican restaurant at 100 6th Street on Wednesday , May, 15, 2013. Also in the photo is Morton’s wife Jenna and las Vegas councilman Bob Coffin. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Jeff Scheid
Zappos C.E.O. and downtown Las Vegas developer Tony Hsieh, left, high fives La Comida co-owner Michael Morton during the open night party for the Mexican restaurant at 100 6th Street on Wednesday , May, 15, 2013. Also in the photo is Morton’s wife Jenna and las Vegas councilman Bob Coffin. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Men work on freshly poured concrete at Container Park, along Fremont Street and Seventh Street on Friday, June 7, 2013.The $15-$20 million project, which is backed by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project, is scheduled to open next summer.(Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
An empty Container Park as activity remains light in the wake of the closure of a stay-at-home order from Gov. Sisolak and the closure of nonessential businesses in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 4, 2020. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
In this Sept. 18, 2018, file photo, director of economic and urban development for the city of Las Vegas, Bill Arent, from left, vice president for The Wolff Company Nate Carlson, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for Fremont9, a new apartment complex in downtown Las Vegas at Fremont and 9th Street in Las Vegas. (Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco
In this Sept. 18, 2018, file photo, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, right, with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, speaks during the grand opening ceremony for Fremont9, a new apartment complex in downtown Las Vegas at Fremont and 9th Street in Las Vegas, (Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco
In this Dec. 1, 2010, file photo, Tony Hsieh, left, CEO of Zappos, looks on as Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman speaks to local media outside Las Vegas City Hall. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, File)
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, left, meets Malik McHugh, 14, second from right, and Marshon Lee, 14, both eighth-graders at Rainbow Dreams Academy, as organizer Duana Malone looks on during the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Technology Summit at Zappos headquarters in downtown Las Vegas Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
In this Jan. 28, 2012, file photo, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh works on his laptop computer before the start of the LaunchUp Las Vegas event at the Oquendo Center at 2425 E. Oquendo Road. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
In this 2012, file photo, Tony Hsieh, CEO of online clothing retailer Zappos.com, takes part in an interview. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
In this Oct. 13, 2008 file photo, Vegas Young Professionals named Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, 34, its 2008 Mover and Shaker of the Year. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, File)
In this June 15, 2018, file photo, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh speaks at the Travel Leaders Network 2018 EDGE International Conference at Caesars Palace at 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd. in Las Vegas. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
In this June 15, 2018, file photo, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh speaks at the Travel Leaders Network 2018 EDGE International Conference at Caesars Palace at 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd. in Las Vegas. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Zappos.com CEO and Downtown Project head Tony Hsieh speaks during his keynote at SXSW V2V meeting at the Cosmopolitan on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Tony Hsieh (Justin Yurkanin/Las Vegas Review Journal)
Tony Hsieh, the former chief executive of Zappos who pumped a fortune into downtown Las Vegas and became the face of its revitalization, died Friday.
He was 46.
Megan Fazio, spokeswoman for Hsieh’s side venture DTP Companies, confirmed Hsieh’s death in an email Friday night. She did not release the cause of death.
“Tony’s kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him, and forever brightened the world,” the statement said. “Delivering happiness was always his mantra, so instead of mourning his transition, we ask you to join us in celebrating his life.”
It added: “On behalf of all DTP Companies employees and staff, we would like to express our deepest condolences to Tony’s family and friends who have all lost Tony as a cherished loved one, visionary and friend. Tony was highly regarded by all of his fellow friends and colleagues in the tight-knit family at DTP Companies, so this heartbreaking tragedy is one that affects many involved.”
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman called Hsieh’s death “a tragic loss.”
“Tony meant so much to Las Vegas, always dreaming, working to inspire and leading others to create a new vision for tomorrow. Our prayers and sympathies to his family,” she said.
Zappos’ new chief executive, Kedar Deshpande, its former chief operating officer, told the company Friday night in an internal memo, obtained by the Review-Journal, that the online shoe seller “lost our inspiring former leader” and that “many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend.”
“Tony played such an integral part in helping create the thriving Zappos business we have today, along with his passion for helping to support and drive our company culture,” Deshpande wrote.
He also said in the email the company would be exploring ways to celebrate Hsieh’s life in the coming days.
A Zappos spokeswoman did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night.
Gov. Steve Sisolak tweeted Friday night that Hsieh “played a pivotal role in helping transform” downtown Las Vegas.
Myron Martin, president and CEO of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, said Hsieh “was a friend and a loyal supporter” of the downtown venue.
Hsieh donated $1 million to the Smith Center and bought all the tickets in his box and gave them to his employees, Martin said.
“I will miss his ‘all-hands’ staff meetings in Reynolds Hall, and the epic after-parties in Symphony Park,” Martin said. ”Mostly, I will miss his kindness.”
Hsieh moved Zappos from Henderson to the old Las Vegas City Hall in 2013. He also launched a side company, then called Downtown Project, to put $350 million into real estate, restaurants, tech startups and other ventures in the Fremont Street area, becoming a dominant property owner there.
Hsieh retired from Zappos and was replaced as its chief executive in August without a formal announcement from the company he had led for two decades after embarking on a homebuying binge this year in the wealthy ski town of Park City, Utah.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Eli Segall at esegall@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0342. Follow @eli_segall on Twitter. Review-Journal staff writers Subrina Hudson and John Katsilometes contributed to this report.
