An elderly pizza delivery driver in Idaho who became a viral sensation after going out of his way to get customers their Diet Coke has finally retired thanks to an outpouring of tips. Dan Simpson, 68, became an internet star earlier this year after taking a second trip to a grocery store to buy the beverages for a couple when the Domino's where he works ran out.
Doorbell camera footage captured Simpson delivering hot pizzas and a pair of two-liter sodas, waving off an extra tip and revealing that he has been with the restaurant as a second job for 14 years. Brian Wilson, the customer, shared the encounter on TikTok, where it went viral, garnering 2.5 million views and thousands of comments from viewers eager to show their support. The post inspired Wilson to create a GoFundMe campaign to help Simpson secure the retirement he deserves.
Simpson, who was working a full-time job at the State Department of Agriculture and delivering pizzas to make ends meet, revealed on Friday that he had retired thanks to the $170,000 in donations he received. 'I got up this morning, the day I'm retiring, and I checked my bank account, and there was $163,000, what a retirement gift that was,' Simpson told KTVB. 'So thank you, Boise. Thank you, Treasure Valley. You made my life quite a little bit easier.'
How It All Began
The story took off on March 27, when Simpson called the Wilsons to explain that Domino's had run out of their preferred Diet Coke, adding that he could bring something else if they wished. Even though the call went unanswered, Simpson went above and beyond, spending his own money to ensure the couple got exactly what they wanted. He arrived at their door, apologized once more for the inconvenience, and explained that he had made a quick stop to pick up some Diet Cokes, treating the kind gesture as no big deal.
'On a busy Friday night. During deliveries. Completely out of his own time and effort,' Wilson wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'We were honestly blown away. That level of care and kindness is rare these days.' The footage shows Wilson, visibly moved by Simpson's generosity, telling him he wanted to add to the original $6 tip, but having no cash on hand, he offered to call the store instead. In response, Simpson said, 'Oh, you don't need to. It's a good tip.'
'On the surface, it probably looked like such a small gesture,' Wilson told the Idaho Statesman. 'But to us, it felt like so much more than that.' Wilson added that both he and his wife are visually impaired, making running out to the store for a quick pickup not simple or easy for them. 'What may have seemed like a tiny inconvenience to solve on his end actually made a huge difference on ours.'
A Viral Sensation
When Simpson returned to work the next day, his much younger coworkers greeted him with surprising news: 'Man, you're famous, dude,' according to the outlet. He found out that the heartwarming encounter was now on TikTok, paired with the caption: 'The world needs more Dans.'
Simpson said he still plans to deliver pizzas on weekends to stay connected to his community, but also hopes to use his funds to give back. 'I might buy a van. I'm gonna buy my decent van, I think,' he said, adding that he wants to explore nature.
A Life of Redemption
Simpson revealed that he struggled with addiction when he was younger and spent time in prison. Since his release, he has been working two jobs to make ends meet. 'I got in a lot of trouble with drinking and drugs. When I got out, I said, "That's it." I knew I'd never drink again,' he said. 'Ever since I stepped out of prison, I've basically worked two jobs and worked hard and tried to do the right thing.' Now, he wants to help others who are struggling. 'Maybe get them grounded in something that doesn't make drugs and alcohol necessary in their life,' he said.
