Octogenarian Pizza Delivery Man Gets $12 000 TikTok Tip

Octogenarian Pizza Delivery Man Gets $12 000 TikTok Tip

Friendly and outgoing nature earns Utah man lots of fans

Courtesy of @vendingheads TikTok Derlin Newey and Carlos Valdez addressing social media fans in a video. At 89, Derlin Newey delivers pizzas to supplement his Social Security payments. But he also does it to bring joy to people. He never expected his kindness would make him a social media sensation and that his fans would give him $12,000 and counting to help him make ends meet. "I never looked for it. I never asked for it. It just happened,” says Newey, a retired marketing professional from Ogden, Utah. “I just asked God to help me prosper in my work." "I'm a celebrity, and I'm loving it as long it lasts." But in many ways, he earned the gift with his infectious cheer and by living out his personal philosophy to “do your best and love everybody without being critical." From the first pizza delivery to the Valdez home in Roy, Utah, that attitude shined through."We fell in love with him,” Carlos Valdez says. “His approach was so kindhearted. He wanted to take time and start a conversation. Not many people do that anymore."

Looking for some pizza

Valdez's wife met Newey first and told him about “the sweetest old man” who had delivered her favorite pineapple pizza. Valdez was so intrigued that he watched the encounter on their doorbell camera recording. After subsequent deliveries, Valdez edited the security footage and posted excerpts of their conversations on , a video-sharing social media platform. In the first video, as soon as the door opens, Newey unleashes his catchphrase: “Are you looking for some pizza?”
He thanks them for requesting that he deliver the pizza, asks how long they've lived in the neighborhood and tells them he has driven past their house “thousands of times” on his way to church. The video has been liked on TikTok more than 72,000 times and generated almost 1,000 comments. Newey says he started working for the local Papa John's franchise with the goal of paying off his car. Once he achieved the goal, he continued to work 30 hours a week for the extra cash — but also because he enjoys it.
"It's a delightful job,” he says. “The kids are saying, ‘Oh, we're having pizza tonight.’ And the mom says, ‘Yes, and I don't have to cook!’ “

A long life ahead

After the first TikTok video generated so much attention, Valdez and his wife wanted to return Newey's kindness. They asked followers to donate money for a special tip. Within two weeks, they handed Newey a check for $12,000. A Salt Lake City television station captured the moment, and the footage was picked up by stations all across the country. Newey and Valdez have told their story to People magazine, Inside Edition and dozens of other news outlets.

Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. "I'm a celebrity,” Newey says, “and I'm loving it as long it lasts." The donations keep rolling in. People who saw the news stories have flooded Valdez with requests to give. To handle the influx, Valdez helped Newey open a Venmo account so that people could transfer money directly to him. Newey isn't planning to spend the money. For now, it is sitting in his bank account and earning 1 percent interest. He wants to invest it in a mutual fund that could earn 10 percent over the next five years. And, yes, Newey expects to live that long. He says he's never been sick, and most people in his family live long and active lives. “My dad lived to be 103, and he had a sister who was older than him,” he says. “It's my goal to be the longest-living Newey."

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