But while he directly (by the tens of thousands) and indirectly (by the millions) delivered on making other people smile, Hsieh was privately coping with issues of mental health and addiction. Forbes has interviewed more than 20 of his close friends and colleagues over the past few days, each trying to come to grips with how this brightest of lights had met such a dark and sudden end.<\/p>\n
Reconciling their accounts, one word rises up: tragedy. According to his friends and family, Hsieh\u2019s personal struggles took a dramatic turn south over the past year, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed the nonstop action that Hsieh seemingly craved. According to numerous sources with direct knowledge, Hsieh, always a heavy drinker, veered into frequent drug use, notably nitrous oxide. Friends also cited mental health battles, as Hsieh often struggled with sleep and feelings of loneliness\u2014traits that drove his fervor for purpose and passion in life. By August, it was announced that he had \u201cretired\u201d from the company he built, and which Amazon had let him run largely autonomously since paying $1.2 billion for Zappos in 2009. Friends and family members, understanding the emerging crisis, attempted interventions over the past few months to try to get him sober.<\/p>\n
Instead, these old friends say, Hsieh retreated to Park City, where he surrounded himself with yes-men, paying dearly for the privilege. With a net worth that Forbes recently estimated, conservatively, at $700 million, Hsieh\u2019s offer was simple: He would double the amount of their highest-ever salary. All they had to do was move to Park City with him and \u201cbe happy,\u201d according to two sources with personal knowledge of Hsieh\u2019s months in Utah. \u201cIn the end, the king had no clothes, and the sycophants wouldn\u2019t say a fucking word,\u201d said a close friend who tried to stage one of the interventions, with the help of Hsieh\u2019s family. \u201cPeople took that deal from somebody who was obviously sick,\u201d encouraging his drug use, either tacitly or actively.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe fostered so much human connection and happiness, yet there was this void,\u201d the close friend continued. \u201cIt was difficult for him to be alone.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ultimately, that may have been a fatal trait. \u201cWhen you look around and realize that every single person around you is on your payroll, then you are in trouble,\u201d Jewel wrote in that August letter (a representative for Jewel declined to comment). \u201cYou are in trouble, Tony.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n The tragic story behind \u2066@Zappos<\/a>\u2069 founder Tony Hsieh\u2019s death: addiction, loneliness and a lack of mooring. Well reported story by \u2066@Forbes<\/a>\u2069 https:\/\/t.co\/Hofqxpx5wl<\/a><\/p>\n — Kate Kelly (@katekelly) December 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n