This FedEx gambling story is such a fascinating piece of business lore — a wild mix of desperation, guts, and just a bit of luck. Fred Smith’s decision to risk the company’s last $5,000 on blackjack in Vegas during the oil crisis is definitely not a blueprint for running a business, but it shows his determination and willingness to take chances when everything seemed lost.

Here’s a quick summary that highlights the key points:

The FedEx Gambling Story: How a Risky Blackjack Win Helped Save a Company

Background:
In 1973, FedEx was on the brink of collapse due to skyrocketing fuel prices caused by the oil embargo. Founder Fred Smith had raised $80 million but was down to the company’s last $5,000 and needed more funds fast to keep operations alive.

The Gamble:
With a business loan fallen through and no clear options left, Smith took a gamble — literally — by heading to Las Vegas and betting the last $5,000 on blackjack. He won $27,000, enough to buy fuel to keep FedEx flying for another week.

What Happened Next:
This blackjack win wasn’t a business strategy, just a desperate move born from determination not to quit. Using that brief lifeline, Smith secured an additional $11 million in funding and navigated the company through the crisis.

Legacy:
Smith never glorified the gamble but called it an “omen” and a symbol of his refusal to go down without a fight. Despite skepticism early on (his college professor gave his delivery concept a “C”), his vision built FedEx into a global logistics powerhouse.

Would you like me to help you turn this story into a blog post, a social media snippet, or maybe a motivational business lesson? Or do you want a more casual version to share as a fun anecdote?