Burt Shavitz

Bio:
Burt Shavitz (born Ingram Berg Shavitz in Manhattan, New York on May 15, 1935) was an American beekeeper and businessman. He founded the Burt’s Bees products company, which is known for its expansive line of naturalistic personal care and beauty items. In his youth, Shavitz spent time in the Army and worked as a photographer; some of his photos appeared in Life and Time magazines. He later moved to Maine, and took up beekeeping as a job. He would make and sell wax candles locally, and by the 1980s, Burt’s Bees was launched with the help of businesswoman Roxanne Quimby. Cloroz purchased the company for over $900 million in 2007. In 2014, In 2014, a documentary titled Burt’s Buzz, which covers Shavitz’s life and the history of Burt’s Bees, was released. Shavitz died on July 5, 2015 from respiratory problems.

Best Known For:
Burt Shavitz is best known for starting Burt’s Bees.

Personal Life:
Shavitz was raised in Great Neck, New York. After he finished high school, he changed his name. Early on in the Burt’s Bees business, Shavitz was romantically involved with his business partner, Roxanne Quimby, but they later broke up.