The billionaire works almost full-time for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and is minimally involved in Starkey’s for- profit operations. He doesn’t attend the company’s budget and sales meetings and stays as far away from money matters as he can.
“I haven’t written a check since August of 1970,” he said. “I have no idea who pays my bills and I don’t care.”
Austin has received several offers to buy his company and says selling it is out of the question. He doesn’t want a new owner to stray from Starkey’s “values philosophy,” where patients come before profit. He intends to continue working at Starkey as long as he’s able.
“I want to contribute,” he said. “I will be useful as long as I can stand and work.”