Early Life
Born Burt Butler Beveridge II in San Antonio, Texas, Bert “Tito” Beveridge had an unconventional path to becoming a billionaire. He grew up with a childhood nickname, Tito. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in geology and geophysics, Beveridge initially pursued a career in the oil and gas industry. He worked in various roles, including heading a seismic dynamite crew in Venezuela. His early life was far from the spirits industry that would later make him famous.
Rise to Success
Beveridge's entrepreneurial journey began in the early 1990s when he started making flavored vodkas as gifts for friends. In 1997, he founded Fifth Generation, Inc., and the Mockingbird Distillery. Facing challenges, he borrowed $90,000 using 19 credit cards to launch Tito's Handmade Vodka. The company's breakthrough came in 2001 when Tito's won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out established brands. The business expanded, and in 2024, Tito's was estimated to have sold over 12 million cases of vodka.
Key Business Strategies
Tito's success is rooted in several key strategies. The vodka is crafted using a traditional pot-still method, distinguishing it from mass-produced vodkas. The use of corn as the base ingredient also makes it naturally gluten-free. From the beginning, Tito's has focused on giving back to the community. The company's philanthropic initiative, “Love, Tito's,” supports numerous charitable organizations. Beveridge retains 100% ownership of Fifth Generation, Inc., the parent company of Tito's Handmade Vodka.
Philanthropy
Tito's Handmade Vodka has a strong commitment to philanthropy, particularly through its “Love, Tito's” initiative. The company donates the net proceeds from its online store to nonprofits. It supports a wide range of causes, including disaster relief, animal welfare, veteran support, and environmental conservation. The company has contributed more than $150 million to over 20,000 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and worldwide in the past five years. In 2024, Bert Beveridge received the Ray Herrmann H.E.R.O. Award for his philanthropic work.