Burt's Bees Co-Founder Burt Shavitz -- Dead at 80
Burt's Bees Co-Founder Dead at 80
Burt Shavitz -- the co-founder of the natural cosmetics company Burt's Bees, which bore his name and likeness -- died Sunday in Maine. He was 80.
A spokeswoman for the company said Shavtiz died of respiratory complication, surrounded by family and friends. The company's website says Shavitz "has left for greener fields and wilder woods."
Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby founded the company in 1984. They made $20,000 in their first year and the company was eventually bought by Clorox in 2007 ... for $925 million.
Shavitz left the company in the '90s after he claims he was forced out for having an affair with an employee. He says he received 37 acres of land in Maine and an undisclosed sum of money as part of his exit deal.
