Inside the marriage of controversial billionaires Betsy DeVos and Amway heir Dick DeVos, who married young and ran a 'shadow state' in Michigan
The current Secretary of Education met her husband sometime around 1976, Politico reported. They dated while she was a student at Calvin College, a Christian college in Grand Rapids.
He'd often swing by campus in his Mercedes and pick her up, The Atlantic reported.
Source: Politico, The Atlantic
In his book "Rediscovering American Values," Dick DeVos said the couple's relationship was "based on our honest sharing of love, faith, and commitment." He dedicated his book to the couple's four children and to his wife, "whom I love with all my heart."
The pair wed in 1979. Dick wrote of marrying "beautiful Betsy Prince of Holland, Michigan, who shared my Dutch heritage as well as my Christian commitment."
Those weren't the only things the couple had in common. Betsy's father Ed Prince was a wealthy manufacturer, who donated a lot of money to conservative causes...
Source: Politico, The Atlantic
... and Dick's dad Richard DeVos co-founded Amway in 1959. As of 2016, the private, multi-level marketing company had a revenue of $8.8 billion. Richard, who is now 91, also owns the Orlando Magic and is a major Republican donor.
After they were married, the pair didn't go far. According to "Blackwater" author Jeremy Scahill, the couple kept close to home. At one point, they lived just down the street from the Princes.
They went on to have four children — Rick, Elissa, Andrea, and Ryan. None of the Education Secretary's children attended public school. According to Quartz, Rick and Ryan attended Grand Rapids Christian High School for a tuition of $10,000 a year, while Elissa and Andrea were home-schooled.
The pair also belongs to the DeVos Family Council. Founded by Richard DeVos, the group consists of his children and their spouses. The council has its own constitution and meets four times a year. Grandchildren are formally inducted at the age of 16, but don't get to vote till they're 25.
The senior DeVos wrote in his book "Simply Rich" that the council's purpose is to figure out "how the family will work together in managing our shared financial interests and our philanthropy."
The couple primarily resides in a $4 million home in Ada, Michigan. They also own properties in Grand Rapids, Florida, and a lake house in Holland, Michigan. Mansion Global reported their DeVos' assets are held "under several limited liability companies."
Source: Business Insider, Mansion Global
To ensure a "frictionless" life for the family, their properties are all managed by the RDV Corporation, Politico reported. RDV takes care of maintenance, pays the DeVos employees, and also manages the family's investments.
The job description for a RDV household administrative assistant including helping a teenager pack and organize their closet, as well as ensuring doors "are well-oiled to avoid squeaking" and helping to suggest, purchase, and wrap Christmas presents.
Like their parents, DeVos' went on to become incredibly influential in Michigan. They've thrown money into high schools, convention centers, colleges, children's hospitals, and performance halls — many of which bear their name, The Atlantic reported. They also co-own a wine bar.
Source: The Atlantic, Michigan Live
They've also played a huge role in Michigan politics for years. Betsy is often described as "the political junkie in the relationship," as Mother Jones put it. The family has poured huge sums into causes like advocating for charter schools and fighting organized labor.
While Betsy might be the more political partner, Dick was the one who ran for governor of the state in 2006. His platform focused on Michigan's lagging economy. He lost by 14 points. The defeat did not sway the couple from politics, however.
Source: Politico, The New York Times
"I think that loss really solidified the idea in the DeVoses' minds that the real way to get what you want is to be behind the scenes," Demas told Politico. Richard Czuba, owner of bipartisan Michigan polling firm Glengariff Group, told Politico that the family effectively used soft money to become "a shadow state party."
Source: Politico
In 2001, the couple spoke together at "The Gathering," an annual event where America's wealthiest Christians meet up. Dick asserted that public schools have eclipsed churches, in terms of being the center of life for most Americans. Betsy spoke of achieving their goals by changing "the system of education in the country."
The DeVos' have been united by such shared goals and values over the course of their marriage of 39 years. "For me, my first commitment is to God, followed by my commitment to my wife Betsy and to our children," Dick wrote.
Dick also credited their number one rule as a couple with strengthening their marriage. The DeVos' avoid going to bed angry, and Dick wrote that he and Betsy have violated that agreement "only a very few times": "Usually the problem, whatever it is, gets worked out sometime before dawn. Sometimes we don't get much sleep, but our relationship is stronger for it."
Get your weekly dose of essential news delivered right to you, plus explore a world of insights with our diverse newsletter subscription options.
- Weekly newsletter
- Uncover the latest in Tech, Finance, Business, and more
- Handpicked web stories, in-depth articles, and expert analyses
Advertisement