Felix Sabates Biography

The name Felix Sabates might not be immediately recognizable to you, but if you are an avid fan of car racing like the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, or the IZOD IndyCar Series, the name rings with significance. And if you are a resident of the Charlotte, North Carolina area, you've no doubt seen his name around town, possibly at local car dealers such as Bentley Charlotte with the Felix Sabates Luxury Collection of pre-owned luxury cars or Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte.

His remarkable story is really the story of what determination, a heart of altruism, and a tireless dream can accomplish.

Early Life

As the eldest child of seven, born in pre-Castro Cuba, Felix Sabates was more fortunate than most. His parents instilled in him the idea that through hard work, success would come. And indeed it did for the Sabates. As the family branched out into import, export, jewelry, sugar, cattle, and pharmacies, among other things, their holdings grew, and together they thrived.

And then it all came tumbling down in the late 1950s, when Fidel Castro came to power and seized all the family's possessions, along with those of everyone else on the island. They lost everything. At the age of 15, Felix and his family were forced to seek freedom in America. But since Castro had imposed strict laws against residents leaving Cuba, the Sabates family had to emigrate in secret, one by one. Felix was the first to leave, and he was soon reunited with his mother and six siblings in America, but his father, Dr. Felix Sabates Sr., was forbidden to leave. So, for many years, Felix, as the oldest child, was the sole provider of the family. When the family settled in Boston, Felix tirelessly worked odd jobs, including washing pots and pans in local hospitals - whatever it took to help the family survive.

Business Accomplishments

Eventually, the Sabates family was reunited and made their way to North Carolina. There, Felix worked back-breaking shifts doing everything from sanding furniture to parking and washing cars, but he always kept an eye out to advance, to better himself and his family. It was in Charlotte, North Carolina that Felix took a chance on a long shot. He went to the City Chevrolet car dealer and asked to be hired as a salesman. They were not hiring, so Felix made a bold move. He said he'd work for free, and if he could outsell all the other salesmen in one month, he would be compensated and hired on. The car dealer agreed, and his gamble paid off, big time. So much so that the local newspaper caught wind of this tale and publicized the story of the tenacious Felix Sabates.

It was then that Top Sales Company (TSC) learned of this young go-getter and offered him a sales position as a manufacturer's representative. Felix Sabates came on board with TSC in 1969 at the age of 25, and by 1971, he had done so well he was able to purchase the company. Under his direction, TSC became the most successful manufacturer's representative company in the U.S., earning over $12 billion in sales.

But, in 2000, Felix Sabates made a move that shocked most in the business world, and started him on the path of true philanthropy. He sold TSC, in its entirety, to the company's own employees. But he didn't just sell it back to the employees, he sold the shares at well below the market rate to reward the people that helped him build the business, making them all owners and investors in their own future success.

Sabates' corporate acumen continued on with several very profitable ventures, including creating the largest Hatteras fishing yacht dealership in the world, purchasing Trinity Yachts (the top custom super-yacht builder in the world), and forming IYC, one of the world's largest and most successful yacht management/brokerage/building companies. All the while, he's also stayed true to his Charlotte, N.C. automotive roots by continuing to operate several Bentley, Infiniti, Mazda, Hyundai, Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz, and Smart Car dealers in the area. In fact, the Felix Sabates' Luxury Collection of pre-owned luxury cars can be found featured at Bentley Charlotte as well as a great selection of luxury cars. You may also find great selection of new and used Mercedes-Benz at Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte.

Philanthropy

Thanks to his tremendous success in business, Felix Sabates was able to in turn give back to the world around him. And he did so, generously, becoming a renowned philanthropist in many fields. He has received prestigious honors for his donations to various colleges and universities, including Elon College and the University of North Carolina. He has been recognized by the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, FL for his unwavering support of their programs, and he has made consistent contributions to the North Carolina Health Care System Foundation and the Allegro Foundation for children with special needs. Indeed, for every success Felix Sabates has garnered, he has given back to those in need of both financial support and inspiration to write their own success stories.

A Love of Sports and Car Racing

Maybe it was the fact that automobiles gave Felix Sabates his first real taste of success in the United States. Or maybe it was simply because the lure of automobiles... the speed, power and freedom they offer... appeals to something in the heart of all of us. Either way, since the 1980s, Felix Sabates has not only been involved with luxury vehicles like Bentley and Mercedes-Benz, but he has also been heavily involved in car racing. After purchasing a research and development business from NASCAR heavy-hitter Rick Hendrck, Sabates created SABCO Racing (later called Team SABCO) and became a new competitor in the Busch Cup Series, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He has hired, trained, and worked with some of the biggest and best names in the business, including Kyle Petty, Sterling Marlin, Kenny Irvin, Kenny Wallace, Bobby Hamilton, Robby Gordon, Greg Sacks, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Joe Nemechek, Ted Musgrave, Jimmy Spencer, and Martin Truex Jr. The 2000s also saw Sabates teaming with Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya (who was to become the first Latino NASCAR driver in 2006). All told, Felix Sabates' car racing ventures have gathered over a dozen wins, 40 poles, and 1800 starts in NASCAR, and his Grand-AM team is the winningest in history, after only nine years in competition.

In the 1980s, Felix Sabates also branched out into various other sports outside of car racing. He was an original owner in the NBA Charlotte Hornets, and after selling his interest, he went on to start the first professional indoor soccer league, and brought professional hockey back to Charlotte with the Charlotte Checkers. He currently shares an ownership stake with Michael Jordan in the Charlotte Bobcats.

Still Going with Luxury Cars

It may not seem plausible that one man can accomplish so much after starting with so little, but Felix Sabates has definitely defied the odds. With no sign of stopping any time soon, he will continue to serve as an inspiration and a model of what a dream and a little determination can do. You can find out more about the remarkable Felix Sabates by shopping the luxury cars at Bentley Charlotte or Mercedes-Benz of South Charlotte.