At the age of 20 years old Wally Amos Jr. (aka Famous Amos) secured a job in the mailroom at one of the world’s biggest entertainment management companies, the William Morris Agency, and methodically worked his way up the food chain to become the first black talent agent in the industry. Wally was a hustler. He signed Simon & Garfunkel and represented numerous Motown stars.

At some point word got out that Wally made the most delicious cookies on the planet. Soon celebrities requested Wally and his cookies at every meeting. These cookies were hot, and so was Amos!

Marvin Gaye liked these cookies so much that he invested $25,000 to help Wally start the Famous Amos Cookie Company in 1975. The cookies were an immediate hit and revolutionized the industry generating $12 million in sales by 1982.

Unfortunately Wally was an awful business man and lost it all. In 1985 he sold majority stake in the company for $1 million to President Baking Company. In 1992, they sold the Famous Amos Cookie Company for $61 million.

Great story. Poor Amos.