Ilitch was born in Detroit in 1929 and grew up in a working-class family. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and then returned to Detroit to start his own business. In 1959, he and his wife Marian opened the first Little Caesars Pizza store. The business grew rapidly and eventually became one of the largest pizza chains in the world.
In 1982, Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings, a struggling National Hockey League (NHL) team. He invested heavily in the team, hiring top players and coaches and building a new arena. Under his ownership, the Red Wings became one of the most successful teams in the NHL, winning four Stanley Cup championships.
In 1992, Ilitch purchased the Detroit Tigers, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. He invested in the team, building a new stadium and signing top players. The Tigers made the playoffs several times under his ownership, but never won a World Series.
Mike Ilitch was a beloved figure in Detroit and was known for his generosity and philanthropy. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away in 2017, but his legacy lives on in the sports world.
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