If you are a fan of fried chicken, you might have wondered if Georgia politician David Perdue has any connection to the famous Perdue chicken brand. After all, they share the same last name and both hail from the South. However, the truth is that David Perdue is not related to Perdue chicken, and his fortune comes from a different source. Here’s what you need to know about the former senator and current gubernatorial candidate.
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David Perdue’s Family Background
David Perdue was born in Macon, Georgia, to David Alfred Perdue Sr. and Gervaise Perdue (née Wynn), who were both schoolteachers. His father also served as Superintendent of Schools in Houston County during school desegregation, according to his obituary.
David Perdue graduated from Georgia Tech and worked as a management consultant at Kurt Salmon Associates. He then moved to Singapore to work for an international clothing company in the 1990s. In 1992, he joined Sara Lee as SVP overseeing Asia Operations.
He later became the CEO of Reebok, Pillowtex, and Dollar General, where he helped turn around the struggling businesses and earned millions in compensation. He also served on the boards of several companies, including Alliant Energy and Cardlytics.
David Perdue entered politics in 2014, when he ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. He won the election and served one term until 2021. He lost his reelection bid to Democrat Jon Ossoff in a runoff election that was closely watched nationwide.
In May 2021, David Perdue announced that he would run for governor of Georgia in 2022, challenging incumbent Brian Kemp in the Republican primary. He has positioned himself as a loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him and criticized Kemp for not overturning the 2020 election results in Georgia.
David Perdue’s Net Worth
According to his financial disclosures, David Perdue reported a net worth of about $50 million in 2019, making him one of the wealthiest members of Congress at the time. His assets included $17 million in cash, real estate, and an additional $21 million in investment holdings.
David Perdue’s fortune appears to be self-made, though he may have inherited some from his parents or other relatives. He has also faced scrutiny for his stock trading activities while in office, which raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and insider trading. He denied any wrongdoing and said he followed the law and ethics rules.
David Perdue’s Relation to Sonny Perdue
While David Perdue is not related to Perdue chicken, he does have a famous cousin in politics: Sonny Perdue, who served as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under Trump from 2017 to 2021. Sonny Perdue was also the governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011.
Sonny Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia, to George Ervin \”Sonny\” Perdue Jr. and Ophie Viola (née Hatcher), who were farmers. He graduated from the University of Georgia and worked as a veterinarian before entering politics.
Sonny Perdue has been supportive of his cousin’s political ambitions and has campaigned for him in the past. He has also praised his cousin’s business acumen and leadership skills.
The Origin of Perdue Chicken
Perdue chicken is a privately held company that was founded by Arthur Perdue in 1920 in Salisbury, Maryland. He started out by selling eggs from his backyard flock and later expanded into poultry farming and processing.
He passed the business to his son Frank in the 1950s, who became the face of the company and popularized the slogan \”It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken.\” Frank’s son Jim took over as chairman in 1991 and is still leading the company today.
The CEO of Perdue chicken is Randy Day, who is the first non-Perdue to helm the company. The company is one of the largest chicken producers in the U.S., with annual sales of over $6 billion. It is also known for its commitment to animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and antibiotic-free products.
The Perdue family is primarily based in Maryland, where the company’s headquarters remain to this day. They have no relation to the Georgia Perdues or Purdue University in Indiana.
Conclusion
To sum up, David Perdue is not related to Perdue chicken or Purdue University. He is a self-made millionaire who made his fortune from various business ventures before entering politics. He is related to Sonny Perdue, who was the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former governor of Georgia.
Perdue chicken is a family-owned company that was founded by Arthur Perdue in Maryland in 1920. It is now run by his grandson Jim Perdue and CEO Randy Day. The company is not affiliated with the Georgia Perdues or Purdue University.
According to Market Realist, David Perdue is worth a fortune, but it’s not the Perdue chicken fortune. According to Delmarva Now, Perdue chicken has clarified that it has no connection to David Perdue after social media users called for a boycott of the brand. According to Savannah Now, David Perdue is running for governor in Georgia in 2022 and has the endorsement of Trump. According to Fox 5 NY, Perdue chicken has repeatedly tweeted that it is not affiliated with David Perdue or Sonny Perdue..
