Delia Meek had worked 22 years at the diner and had never seen the man before Saturday.

He sat down for breakfast at the 5 & Diner. When he paid the $17.23 bill, he left a $2,000 tip and a note:

“Please split with the whole staff. Merry Christmas!”

The nine employees working that day split the tip. The woman who served the man got $400, and the rest of the staff got $200 each, Meek told the Arizona Republic.

"I just want to say (to the customer), 'Thank you very much,'" Meek said Tuesday. "You helped out a lot of people with this generous tip you left for all of us.'"

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Travelers walk around the baggage claim in the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Atlanta is among the airports where the FAA will reduce flights due to the shutdown, and airports are facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez