Mike Ilitch
An Entrepreneur
About him
Michael Ilitch Sr. was born on July 20, 1929. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan where he graduated from Thomas M. Cooley High School. He currently lives in Bingham Farms, Michigan with his wife, Marian, and children.
Background facts
- He played for the Detroit Tigers baseball team before an injury cut his career short.
- He decided he wanted to make pizza after having some from Italy, and opened his pizza place after his injury
- In 2012, the total combined amount of all his companies was $2.6 billion
Business experience
Over the years he has worked, and become and owner of many places/organizations. He owns Little Caesar Enterprises, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Champion Foods, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, Olympia Entertainment, Uptown Entertainment, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Olympia Development
Timeline
1959: invested 10,000 life savings to open a single Little Caesars in suburban Detroit
1982: Ilitch purchases Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club
1987: Purchased Fox Theater, restored it to its 1982 style and opened it in 1988
1989: commissioned dramatic renovation of 10-story building, relocated his office staff, and established a new HQ for his pizza company
1992: Ilitch purchases Detroit Tigers baseball team
Sources
biography.yourdictionary.com/mike-ilitch
www.ilitchholdings.com/LeadershipTeam/MichaelIlitch.aspx
littlecaesars.com/AboutUs/TheIlitchFamily.aspx
littlecaesars.com/AboutUs/OurStory.aspx