Question 1

True or false: Schultz briefly considered running for U.S. president as a Republican in 2020.

Accepted Answer

False. Schultz floated a 2020 independent run, not Republican. He later dropped the idea after criticism that it would help re-elect Trump.

Question 2

True or false: Schultz bought Starbucks from its original founders in 1987 for $3.8 million.

Accepted Answer

True. He led a group of investors to purchase Starbucks for $3.8 million, turning it from a Seattle coffee bean retailer into a global chain.

Question 3

True or false: Schultz banned smoking in all Starbucks stores nationwide years before most cities had smoking bans.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1990, Schultz banned smoking in Starbucks stores, a bold move years before widespread public smoking bans became common in the U.S.

Question 4

True or false: Schultz is a lifelong Democrat who donated exclusively to Democratic candidates.

Accepted Answer

False. While he leans Democrat, Schultz has donated to both parties, including to Republican Senator John McCain and moderate Democrats.

Question 5

True or false: Howard Schultz grew up in a Brooklyn housing project and was the first in his family to graduate college.

Accepted Answer

True. Schultz was raised in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn in a housing project and earned a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University.

Question 6

True or false: Schultz wrote a bestselling book titled 'Pour Your Heart Into It' about building Starbucks.

Accepted Answer

True. Published in 1997, 'Pour Your Heart Into It' chronicles his journey from Brooklyn to building Starbucks. It was a New York Times bestseller.

Question 7

True or false: Starbucks was originally named 'Caffe Starbucks' when Schultz first joined the company.

Accepted Answer

False. The company was always called Starbucks, named after the first mate in Moby-Dick. Schultz joined in 1982 as director of retail operations.

Question 8

True or false: Schultz served as CEO of Starbucks for three separate non-consecutive terms.

Accepted Answer

False. He was CEO from 1987–2000, returned from 2008–2017, and then briefly in 2022. That's two full terms plus a short interim stint, not three separate terms.

Howard Schultz Trivia Questions