Santa Claus Named Entrepreneur of 2020 In a year of extraordinary challenges, the man in red has pivoted and adapted without ever losing that signature twinkle in his eye.

By Dan Bova Edited by Dan Bova

Getty Images

Entrepreneur has seen many impressive innovators and inspiring leaders rise to this year's challenges. And as we head into the New Year with hope in our hearts, we would like to officially recognize a mystical being whose belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly as the Entrepreneur of 2020

In an age of social distancing, Santa Claus has arguably the toughest job in town. And yet, he has pivoted and problem-solved in unprecedented ways to keep his business on track.

In the weeks leading up to his busiest day of the season, Santa and his helpers found inventive ways to use technology to continue their work. In just one example, with in-person meetings at malls becoming a health concern, Santa went virtual with It's The Real Santa, which allowed him to create and deliver personalized videos to children nationwide.

Related: Take This Quiz to Find the Perfect Side Hustle for You

As a frontline worker, he was recently visited at his home on the North Pole by the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Fauci. Explaining the trip to kids during a CNN-Sesame Street town hall, Fauci explained, "I took a trip up there to the North Pole, I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go. He can come down the chimney, he can leave the presents, he can leave, and you have nothing to worry about."

Entrepreneur had the unique chance to speak with the very busy St. Nick for an episode of the Get a Real Job podcast. He spoke about what drives his gift-giving passion, and how he got into this business in the first place: "Santa has existed as long there have been children who wanted Santa. We have a symbiotic relationship. Children need Santa, Santa needs them."

You can listen to the entire conversation below. Congrats to Santa and happy holidays to all!

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

I've Made Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars With a Fun Side Hustle — And You Might Have Seen Me Doing It on TV

Phil Schraeder, CEO at GumGum Advertising, turned a childhood passion into a lucrative side gig.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Meta Says It Has Fired 20 Employees For Leaking Information: 'We Expect There Will Be More'

Meta has a strict no-leaks policy, but internal memos and meeting recordings have still made their way outside the company.

Business News

MrBeast's Holding Company Could Be Worth $5 Billion After Its Latest Fundraising Round

The YouTube creator is reportedly in talks to raise funds for a holding company for his various businesses, including his snack brand, Lunchly.

Branding

How Businesses Can Capitalize on Emerging Domain Name Trends

The potential of new gTLDs and emerging domain trends is reshaping how businesses brand themselves online. Here's how you can stay ahead of the curve.

Business Culture

How to Build a Company Culture That Values Individuality and Belonging

When employees feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work, they're more engaged, creative and connected.