Howard Schultz

One of your investors.

One of your investors.

One of the investors. We walked across the street to the Rainier Tower, the old Rainier Tower. I think Sam had one of the biggest offices. We walk in there, and I swear, even though it's so many years later, I have a perfect, vivid account for what took place. Sam is sitting behind his desk, and this is what happened, because it was five minutes. Bill Gates, remember, he's a huge guy.

One of the investors. We walked across the street to the Rainier Tower, the old Rainier Tower. I think Sam had one of the biggest offices. We walk in there, and I swear, even though it's so many years later, I have a perfect, vivid account for what took place. Sam is sitting behind his desk, and this is what happened, because it was five minutes. Bill Gates, remember, he's a huge guy.

leans over to the desk with his hands on Sam's desk and says, I don't know what you are planning, but whatever it is, it's not going to happen.

leans over to the desk with his hands on Sam's desk and says, I don't know what you are planning, but whatever it is, it's not going to happen.

Wow.

Wow.

And he says, Howard Schultz is going to acquire a Starbucks coffee company, and he's never going to hear from you again. That was it.

And he says, Howard Schultz is going to acquire a Starbucks coffee company, and he's never going to hear from you again. That was it.

And we walk out. That's it. That's the whole thing. And so did you hear from Jerry that the bid had been dropped? We walk out, and I say to Mr. Gates— There's one little problem.

And we walk out. That's it. That's the whole thing. And so did you hear from Jerry that the bid had been dropped? We walk out, and I say to Mr. Gates— There's one little problem.

I say to Mr. Gates, what just happened? And he said, you're going to buy Starbucks Coffee Company, and my son and I are going to help you. Wow. Hmm. And we raised the money, and that's the story. I never spoke to Sam Strom again. I've never mentioned his name publicly. I never mentioned his name in his book. And I say it respectfully. I'm not trying to, but that's the story.

I say to Mr. Gates, what just happened? And he said, you're going to buy Starbucks Coffee Company, and my son and I are going to help you. Wow. Hmm. And we raised the money, and that's the story. I never spoke to Sam Strom again. I've never mentioned his name publicly. I never mentioned his name in his book. And I say it respectfully. I'm not trying to, but that's the story.

And Sam, I mean, for anyone who doesn't live in the Seattle area, his name is on buildings and community centers. I mean, this revered philanthropist, I actually don't know his business background. How did he become the Titan that he was? He was involved in real estate and also in those auto stores. How did you get him off the Il Giornale cap table?

And Sam, I mean, for anyone who doesn't live in the Seattle area, his name is on buildings and community centers. I mean, this revered philanthropist, I actually don't know his business background. How did he become the Titan that he was? He was involved in real estate and also in those auto stores. How did you get him off the Il Giornale cap table?

Wasn't he an investor in your existing business? He and his family were investors to the end until they got out. Oh, wow. Until they got out. Wow.

Wasn't he an investor in your existing business? He and his family were investors to the end until they got out. Oh, wow. Until they got out. Wow.

No, he had a henchman who was his money guy who figured out we could just take this company. And what do we need Howard Schultz for? He's a young kid. Mm-hmm. And Sam had experience with retail with those auto stores.

No, he had a henchman who was his money guy who figured out we could just take this company. And what do we need Howard Schultz for? He's a young kid. Mm-hmm. And Sam had experience with retail with those auto stores.