AutoNation

Harry Wayne Huizenga drove a Florida garbage route before building Waste Management, Blockbuster, and AutoNation into three Fortune 500 companies

by
Starting with Southern Sanitation in Florida, Huizenga built major companies across waste collection, video rentals, and automobile sales. His acquisition-driven approach transformed Blockbuster and AutoNation into industry leaders, while his ventures also included hotels, car rentals, and sports teams. (Wikimedia Commons)

The entrepreneurial path of Harry Wayne Huizenga started with garbage collection, using one truck and one route among commercial customers in Florida. In 1962, he borrowed money to buy a $5,000 truck and acquire 20 commercial clients, then founded Southern Sanitation Service. This formed the beginning of his career, which spanned waste collection, video rentals, … Read more