What began as a normal Sunday shift yielded the tip of a lifetime for an Omaha waiter when pop star Jason Derulo tipped him $5,000.
On March 5, the evening shift at Charleston's restaurant started like any other. Jordan Schaffer, a server and student studying software engineering at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, clocked in around 4:30 p.m.
About an hour in to Schaffer's shift, his coworker mentioned that he had just gotten a call from Jason Derulo's manager. Derulo and 18 other people — the multi-platinum singer's friends and family — were headed to Charleston's.
"None of us really believed him, because we didn't understand why the heck Jason Derulo would be in Omaha," Schaffer said. "We were all joking with each other, saying 'I gotta make sure I'm on my A-game for Jason Derulo.' None of us really thought it was going to happen."
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Then, Derulo's security guard came in to talk to the staff ahead of the reservation — and the running joke became a reality. Schaffer said that he felt a bit of anxiety begin to creep in but was determined to treat Derulo like any other guest.
About halfway through the dinner, Derulo and his business partner began asking Schaffer questions about the restaurant, such as if they pool tips or give them to individual servers. Schaffer explained that the tip would be split between himself and his coworker, who was also serving the table.
"Looking back, maybe we should have seen it coming," Schaffer said. "But we really didn't have any idea. It wasn't even in the realm of possibility."
As the dinner wrapped up, Derulo's manager approached the wait staff to ask if they would be willing to be in a TikTok as a thank you. They agreed, and handed the bill to Derulo as the cameras rolled.
On a $795 bill, Derulo tipped $5,000 — more than 625%.
Jordan Schaffer, back right, and other servers pose with Jason Derulo and his wife, seated on the left. The pop star left a $5,000 tip for Schaffer and his coworker.
Schaffer posted a TikTok thanking Derulo for his kindness, which quickly gained thousands of likes. Derulo also posted his own TikTok video of the exchange to his more than 57 million followers. That video has been viewed nearly 2 million times.
"My heart is beating really fast," Schaffer says in the TikTok after seeing the tip.
"You guys are really awesome, man," Derulo responds.
The gesture was especially meaningful for Schaffer, who had been struggling to pay for his college tuition. His half of the $5,000 tip covered expenses for the entire semester.
"Seeing that much money written out in the tip line was just incredible," Schaffer said. "It was the last thing either of us expected and it helped us both immensely."
20 things famous people say about Nebraska
Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick returns a shot to James Blake on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, during the Champions Cup at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
"I'll never lose my roots. I think I'm too close to my family for that. I still make my trip back to Nebraska every year, and I still love going back to Texas where I grew up, as well. I've just kind of had to mature a little bit more and get used to a little bit different style of life."
-- Tennis player Andy Roddick
Sean Penn
Sean Penn
"I had a tremendous time shooting in Nebraska. I like that state a lot, all over it."
-- Actor Sean Penn
Larry the Cable Guy
Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a Husker baseball game in May 2014 at Haymarket Park.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my state. When I grew up there, it was the greatest time in my life. I’ll always try to mention my home state.”
-- Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy
Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett, on stage during the “Dick Cavett's Watergate" panel at the PBS 2014 Summer TCA, is from Lincoln
"You appreciate Nebraska when you have left it, and you suddenly get a yearning for the Sandhills, your old neighborhood."
-- Comedian Dick Cavett
Merril Hoge
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge is joined by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he announces a draft pick during the second round of the NFL Draft, Friday, April 26, 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
"If we wanted a model of how sports should be, you go to Nebraska and experience that. If you love sports, if you love college football, go to Nebraska, make an effort to go to Nebraska and watch a game."
-- Merril Hoge, former NFL player and ESPN analyst
Meghan Daum
Meghan Daum is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
"Like a restless kid from a small town, Lincoln wants to prove to you that it’s not a hick. All the same, the country comforts of its steakhouses and honky-tonks make you want to put your arms around it as though it were a big, shaggy sheepdog."
-- Author and columnist Meghan Daum
Donna Brazile
Interim Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile speaks during a meeting of Democratic National Committee to formally elect Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., to the chair Wednesday, May 4, 2011 in Washington.
"I have a simple rule: when I'm on TV, I'm not talking to just my anchor or my colleague on my right. I'm talking to America. I look into the lens, and in my head, I'm talking to somebody in Nebraska. Why Nebraska? Why the Cornhusker State? I have no idea. But it feels like it's a good place to talk to people."
-- Political analyst Donna Brazile
Gabrielle Union
In this Jan. 7, 2015 file photo, Gabrielle Union arrives at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Union stars in "Being Mary Jane," airing Tuesdays on BET.
"My mom is painfully sweet; she's from Nebraska."
-- Actress Gabrielle Union
Matthew Sweet
Musician Matthew Sweet
"The openness of rural Nebraska certainly influenced me. That openness, in a way, fosters the imagination. But growing up, Lincoln wasn't a small town. It was a college town. It had record stores and was a liberal place."
-- Musician Matthew Sweet
Andrew Rannells
Andrew Rannells (center) was nominated for a Tony for his role in "The Book of Mormon," which is playing at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in New York. (Boneau/Bryan-Brown)
"I still can't shake the Nebraska off of me."
-- Actor Andrew Rannells
Kevin Bleyer
Nominee Kevin Bleyer arrives at the 65th Primetime Emmys Writers Nominee Reception, on Thursday, September 19, 2013, at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre, in North Hollywood, Calif.
"Yes, my fellow citizens, despite what the original Constitution of the United States says about the qualifications for statehood and the guarantee of representation in Congress, by every measure that truly matters in America (bigness, crowdedness, awesomeness, Texasness), Nebraska doesn't deserve its star on the American flag."
-- Writer/producer Kevin Bleyer
Rainbow Rowell
"I find Ugg boots really comforting... Because they remind me that we live in a place you can still get away with, even get excited by, Ugg boots. In fashionable places, you have to pretend that you're over them, or that you've always hated them. But in Nebraska, you can still be happy about new Ugg boots. That's nice. There's no end to the innocence."
-- Rainbow Rowell
Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns
“This is my first time (in Nebraska), and I’ve documented it very well into my journal. I’m happy to be here.”
-- Karl-Anthony Towns, NBA player
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa, a cast member in "Justice League," said: "Anyone who spends time on the road knows there's something special about being in the middle of Utah or Nebraska - you sit with it, and there's a peace about it. You can go left or right, and it opens up all kinds of doors. You take your own path."
Ashley Graham
Model and author Ashley Graham (from brainyquote.com): "Back in Nebraska, I was known as the fat model - the girl who was pretty for a big girl. My body, like my confidence, has been picked apart, manipulated, and controlled by others who didn't necessarily understand it."
Tyronn Lue
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue: "It's tough coming out of Nebraska, where you're the man and you have to score, to going to the guy that sets the team up and being a role player."
Thomas Haden Church
"To this day I am convinced that the real reason we met was because Alexander (Payne) is from Nebraska, and he was completely fascinated that I was about to go off and make a movie with Brando - perhaps the most famous Nebraskan of all."
- Thomas Haden Church
Standing Bear
"My first years were spent living just as my forefathers had lived - roaming the green, rolling hills of what are now the states of South Dakota and Nebraska."
- Standing Bear
Kevin Morby
"My dad grew up in western Nebraska. I'd visit all the time as a kid, and it's very much like the Wild West. It felt to me like a cowboy movie. Stuff like that made me become this dreamer at a young age."
- Kevin Morby, singer
Alan Heeger
"My undergraduate years at the University of Nebraska were a special time in my life: the combination of partying and intellectual awakening that is what the undergraduate years are supposed to be. I went to the university with the goal of becoming an engineer; I had no concept that one could pursue science as a career."
- 2000 Chemistry Nobel Laureate Alan J. Heeger (left in this photo)
Zoe Kazan
“I loved what I saw of your state. I had the best time in Nebraska. It was so beautiful there."
- Zoe Kazan
Michael Buble
Entertainer Michael Bublé during March 23, 2019, show in Lincoln: “You are strong people here. I admire you very much. I respect what you’re doing and, more than that, I just like you.”
