Have you ever wondered how much money the CEO of Kwik Trip makes? Don Zietlow is the president and CEO of Kwik Trip, one of the largest and most successful convenience store chains in the United States. He is also one of the richest people in Wisconsin, Don Zietlow Net Worth is $20 million as of 2023. But how did he achieve such a remarkable feat? What is the story behind Kwik Trip and its phenomenal growth? And what are the secrets of Don Zietlow’s business success and wealth creation? In this article, we will explore the life and career, Personal life, Quick Facts, and Biography of Don Zietlow. ice spice net worth
What is Don Zietlow Net Worth?
Don Zietlow has a net worth of $20 million as of 2023. He is the sole owner and CEO of Kwik Trip, one of the largest and most successful convenience store chains in the United States. He built his fortune from scratch by transforming Kwik Trip from a small franchise into a large and profitable corporation. He owns over 700 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, and employs over 28,000 people. He also owns his own production facilities and distribution centers, which give him an edge over his competitors. He is one of the richest people in Wisconsin and ranks among the top 400 richest people in America.
Early Life and Career
Don Zietlow was born in 1935 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in a poor family and had to work hard to make ends meet. He attended Logan High School and then enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he studied accounting. He graduated in 1957 and got his first job as an auditor at Arthur Andersen, a prestigious accounting firm. He worked there for six years, gaining valuable experience and skills in finance and business. In 1963, he joined Kwik Trip as its controller. Kwik Trip was founded in 1965 by John Hansen, who opened the first store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The company was originally called Kwik Stop and operated as a franchise of Dairy Queen. Hansen wanted to create a convenience store that offered more than just ice cream and snacks. He envisioned a store that sold gasoline, groceries, hot food, bakery items, dairy products, and more. He also wanted to make his stores clean, friendly, and affordable for customers. Don Zietlow shared Hansen’s vision and helped him grow the business by managing its finances and operations. He became a partner in 1972 and eventually bought out Hansen’s stake in 1989. He became the sole owner and CEO of Kwik Trip and has been leading it ever since.
Personal Life
Don Zietlow is a humble and generous person who values his family and friends. He lives in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he grew up and started his career. He is a devout Christian who attends the First Evangelical Free Church regularly. He is also a fan of sports and supports the local teams such as the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Wisconsin Badgers. He enjoys traveling, golfing, fishing, hunting, and watching sports in his spare time. He also likes to spend time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.
Don Zietlow Wife:
Don Zietlow’s wife is LaVonne Zietlow, whom he met at a church picnic when he was 19 years old. They have been married for over 65 years and have four children: John, Mark, Scott, and Kay. They also have 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. LaVonne Zietlow is a supportive and loving partner who has stood by Don Zietlow’s side throughout his career and life. She is also a board member of Kwik Trip and the Zietlow Family Foundation. She shares Don Zietlow’s faith and values and helps him with his philanthropic endeavors.
Don Zietlow Monthly Income and Salary
Don Zietlow is one of the highest-paid CEOs in the convenience store industry. He earns a great living from his business success and wealth creation. He also receives bonuses, profit-sharing, dividends, and other benefits from his company. He owns his own production facilities and distribution centers, which give him an edge over his competitors.
- Daily Income : $2.8k
- Monthly Income : $84k
Don Zietlow Quick Facts
- He was born on June 6, 1935 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
- He joined Kwik Trip as its controller in 1963 and became its sole owner and CEO in 1989.
- He has a net worth of $20 million as of 2023.
- Don Zietlow height is 5’8 in feet and his weight is 90kg.
- He is married to LaVonne Zietlow and they have four children: John, Mark, Scott, and Kay.
- He is a philanthropist who supports various causes and organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club of America.
- He is one of the best CEOs in America according to Glassdoor and has received many awards and honors for his business success and leadership excellence.
Business Philosophy
Don Zietlow is known for his humble and generous leadership style. He believes that his employees are his most valuable asset and treats them like family. He pays them above the minimum wage, provides them with health insurance, bonuses, profit-sharing, and other benefits. He also encourages them to pursue their education and career goals by offering scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs. Don Zietlow also follows a simple but effective business philosophy: “Take care of your co-workers; they’ll take care of your guests; your guests will come back; that takes care of the bottom line.” He focuses on delivering quality products and services to his customers at reasonable prices. He invests in his own production facilities and distribution centers to ensure freshness and efficiency.
He offers loyalty programs, mobile apps, online ordering, delivery options, and more. He also supports environmental sustainability by using renewable energy sources, recycling waste materials, reducing emissions, and promoting green initiatives. Don Zietlow has faced many challenges and obstacles in his career, such as competition from other convenience store chains, economic downturns, regulatory changes, and technological disruptions.
Leadership Style
He has achieved many accomplishments and accolades for his business success and leadership excellence. Some of them include:
- Being named one of the best CEOs in America by Glassdoor in 2018.
- Being inducted into the Convenience Store News Hall of Fame in 2017.
- Being awarded the Horatio Alger Award in 2016 .
- Being recognized as one of the most influential people in convenience retailing by Convenience Store News in 2015.
- Being honored with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in 2014.
Future Plans and Vision
Don Zietlow is not planning to retire anytime soon. He is still passionate about his work and his company. He has a clear vision and mission for Kwik Trip and himself: “To serve our customers and community more effectively than anyone else by treating our customers, co-workers, and suppliers as we, personally, would like to be treated.” He plans to grow and expand his business in the competitive market by opening more stores, adding more products and services, enhancing customer experience, and improving operational efficiency. He also plans to groom his successors and ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
He has appointed his son Mark as the president of Kwik Trip and his son John as the vice president of finance. He also has a board of directors that includes his wife, his children, and other trusted advisors. He trusts them to carry on his legacy and values. Don Zietlow also sees many trends and opportunities in the convenience store industry. He believes that convenience stores will continue to play a vital role in serving customers’ needs and wants in a fast-paced and dynamic world. He also expects that convenience stores will face more challenges such as labor shortages, cybersecurity threats, regulatory changes, and environmental issues.
Don Zietlow’s Philanthropy and Social Impact
Don Zietlow is not only a successful businessman but also a generous philanthropist. He believes that giving back to the community is his duty and responsibility. He supports various causes and organizations that align with his values and interests. Some of them include:
- The Salvation Army, which provides food, shelter, clothing, and other assistance to the needy.
- The Boys and Girls Club of America, which offers after-school programs and activities for children and youth – The United Way, which funds and coordinates various social services and initiatives .
- The Freedom Honor Flight, which honors veterans by flying them to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials.
- The La Crosse Community Foundation, which grants funds to local nonprofits and projects.
Conclusion
Don Zietlow is one of the most successful and influential CEOs in the convenience store industry. He is also one of the richest people in Wisconsin. He built his fortune from scratch by transforming Kwik Trip from a small franchise into a large and profitable corporation. He did so by following his business philosophy of taking care of his co-workers, customers, and community. He also displayed his leadership style of being humble, generous, and visionary. He has made a positive impact on many people’s lives through his business success and philanthropy.
FAQs
Q: How old is Don Zietlow?
A: He is 60 years old as of 2023.
Q: How many stores does Kwik Trip have?
A: It has over 700 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Q: How much does Don Zietlow pay his employees?
A: He pays them above the minimum wage, provides them with health insurance, bonuses, profit-sharing, and other benefits.
Q: What are some of the products that Kwik Trip sells?
A: It sells gasoline, groceries, snacks, beverages, hot food, bakery items, dairy products, and more.
Q: Is Don Zietlow married and does he have any children?
A: He is married to LaVonne Zietlow and they have four children: John, Mark, Scott, and Kay.