Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of online shoe retailer Zappos, died from injuries sustained during a fire that ripped through a loved one's home in Connecticut, the company confirmed.
The iconic tech entrepreneur died Friday night. He was 46.
"The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande wrote on the company's website. "We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader, but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend.
"Tony's kindness and generosity touched the lives of everyone around him, as his mantra was of "Delivering Happiness" to others," Deshpande continued. "His spirit will forever be a part of Zappos, and we will continue to honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he was so passionate about."
Hsieh, a Harvard graduate, joined what would become Zappos — at the time ShoeSite.com — in 1999. The company was sold 10 years later for $1.2 billion to Amazon, and Hsieh remained with the company as its CEO until his recent retirement.
He opted to sell because of "the uniqueness of Zappos's culture and Amazon's duty to protect it," Hsieh said at the time. "We think of Amazon as a giant consulting company that we can hire if we want — for instance, if we need help redesigning our warehouse systems."
The tech visionary was also well-known for his efforts to revitalize downtown Las Vegas. In 2013, he pledged $350 million for redevelopment efforts, the same year he relocated Zappos' headquarters into the former Las Vegas City Hall building.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak in a tweet remembered Hsieh for the "pivotal role" he played in transforming the downtown area.
"Kathy and I send our love and condolences to Tony's family and friends during this difficult time."
Hsieh's cause of death remains under investigation.
