Date of Birth: March 15, 1935
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: July 5, 2015
Biography
Burt Shavitz, born Ingram Berg Shavitz, was an American businessman and beekeeper who co-founded Burt’s Bees, a personal care products company known for its natural ingredients. Born in Manhattan, New York, Shavitz led a varied life before finding fame and fortune in the world of natural cosmetics. He initially worked as a photojournalist in New York City during the 1960s, capturing iconic images of the era. Disillusioned with city life, he moved to Maine where he began beekeeping—a hobby that would eventually lead to the creation of Burt’s Bees. Shavitz’s chance meeting with Roxanne Quimby in 1984 turned into a partnership that transformed his small-scale beekeeping operation into a multimillion-dollar business. The company started by selling candles made from beeswax but quickly expanded into a wide range of personal care products. Burt’s Bees was eventually sold to Clorox for $925 million in 2007, although Shavitz had already been bought out before the sale. Shavitz lived a relatively simple life despite his business success, residing in a converted turkey coop in Maine. He was known for his distinctive, rustic appearance, complete with a bushy beard and a penchant for flannel shirts. Shavitz passed away at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer in natural personal care products.
5 Interesting Facts about Burt Shavitz
1. Burt Shavitz was originally a photojournalist in New York City before becoming a beekeeper.
2. He met his business partner Roxanne Quimby while picking up a hitchhiker in Maine.
3. Burt’s Bees started by selling candles made from beeswax before expanding into personal care products.
4. Shavitz lived in a converted turkey coop in Maine despite his business success.
5. The logo of Burt’s Bees features a likeness of Burt Shavitz himself.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Burt Shavitz
1. “A good day is when no one shows up and you don’t have to go anywhere.”
2. “The bees keep me. I don’t keep the bees.”
3. “I had no desire to be a upward mobile rising yuppie with a trophy wife, a trophy house, a trophy car.”
4. “I think that the magic of the brand is the fact that we are who we are.”
5. “The only way to be happy is to live your life the way you want to and not care about what others think.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Burt Shavitz was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Burt Shavitz did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Burt Shavitz – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Shavitz
2. [Burt’s Bees History](https://www.burtsbees.com/content/our-history/our-history.html
5. [Documentary: Burt’s Buzz](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2883404/
