View source for Mike Ilitch

{{Short description|American businessman (1929–2017)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Mike Ilitch
| image       = Mike_Ilitch.jpg
| caption     = Ilitch in 2011
| birth_name  = Michael Ilitch
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1929|7|20}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2017|2|10|1929|7|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| occupation  = Entrepreneur, restaurateur 
| spouse      = [[Marian Ilitch]]
| children    = 7, including [[Christopher Ilitch|Christopher]] and [[Denise Ilitch|Denise]]
}}

'''Michael Ilitch Sr.''' (July 20, 1929 – February 10, 2017), also known as '''"Mr. I"''', was an American entrepreneur and restaurateur. He founded [[Little Caesars]] in 1959 and later owned two Detroit professional sports franchises: the [[Detroit Red Wings]] (1982–2017) of the [[National Hockey League]] and the [[Detroit Tigers]] (1992–2017) of [[Major League Baseball]].

A second-generation American of [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian]] descent, Ilitch was also active in Detroit real-estate redevelopment, including the restoration of the [[Fox Theatre (Detroit)|Fox Theatre]] and the relocation of his corporate headquarters to that venue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=John |author2=Bill McGraw |date=February 10, 2017 |title=Tigers, Red Wings owner and pizza titan Mike Ilitch dead at 87 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/2017/02/10/ilitch-detroit-pizza-red-wings-tigers-hockey-forbes/91475642/ |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=Detroit Free Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rehbein |first=Matt |date=February 11, 2017 |title=Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch dies at 87 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/11/us/mike-ilitch-little-caesars-founder-obit/index.html |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=CNN}}</ref>

==Early life==
Ilitch was born in Detroit in 1929<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090616/COL08/906160312|title=Thrilled by Wings, Mike Ilitch hopes to help pennant push next|work=Detroit Free Press |access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10EE49E574C34B30&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Biographical sketch of Mike Ilitch |publisher=NewsLibrary.com|access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> to [[Macedonian Americans|Macedonian]] immigrants Sotir and Sultana Ilitch. His father was a tool-and-die maker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/mike-ilitch|title=The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions|publisher=Answers|access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://macedonian.org/joomla/images/stories/convention_ads/Speakers/illitch20speech202.pdf|title=2002 MPO Convention Keynote Address: Chris Ilitch Touches Macedonian Hearts|publisher=Macedonian.org|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=December 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218161800/http://macedonian.org/joomla/images/stories/convention_ads/Speakers/illitch20speech202.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A graduate of [[Cooley High School]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], Ilitch served in the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] for four years.<ref name="OneOnOne">{{cite web |title=On one One with Mike Ilitch |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononeb200301.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929211037/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononeb200301.htm |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |access-date=July 16, 2007 |publisher=LegendsofHockey.net}}</ref>

==Business career==
After returning to Detroit, Ilitch signed with the Detroit Tigers organization for a reported $3,000 and played four seasons (1952–1955) in the minors, primarily as a second baseman in the Tigers, [[New York Yankees]], and [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]] systems. A knee injury ended his playing career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Ilitch Minor Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=iltich001mic |access-date=October 17, 2025 |website=Baseball-Reference}}</ref>

After leaving baseball, Ilitch and his wife Marian founded the pizza company [[Little Caesars Pizza|Little Caesars Pizza Treat]] in [[Garden City, Michigan]] in 1959.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/2017/02/10/ilitch-detroit-pizza-red-wings-tigers-hockey-forbes/91475642|title=Tigers, Red Wings owner and pizza titan Mike Ilitch dead at 87|access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> In 1999, the Ilitches established [[Ilitch Holdings, Inc.]] to provide their various enterprises with professional and technical services, and held the titles of chairman and vice chairwoman, respectively. The combined total revenues for these enterprises in 2007 reportedly exceeded $1.8 billion. Ilitch had fallen off ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine's annual list of the [[Forbes 400|"400 Richest Americans"]], but in 2006 he returned to the list at No. 242. As of December 2016, he was No. 86 on the Forbes 400 and had an estimated net worth of $6.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/54/biz_06rich400_Michael-Ilitch_V2NC.html |title=#242 Michael Ilitch |work=Forbes |date=September 19, 2006 |access-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref>

In 2000, Ilitch and his wife appointed two of their children as co-presidents of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.: [[Christopher Ilitch]] and daughter [[Denise Ilitch]], an attorney. Christopher Ilitch was named to the new post of CEO and president. Denise Ilitch later left the company "to pursue other opportunities."<ref>[http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/3578533/detail.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914040843/http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/3578533/detail.html|date=September 14, 2007}}</ref>

== Sports ownership ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2023}}

=== Detroit Wheels ===
In an era of experimentation in sports leagues, the [[Detroit Wheels]] were a football team that played in the [[World Football League]] for the 1974 season. Ilitch was part of a 33-person consortium (including Motown singer [[Marvin Gaye]]) that funded the ill-fated WFL team which would not even last the inaugural season in the start-up league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/2013/07/13/1974-detroit-wheels-wfl-football/|title=1974 Detroit Wheels • Fun While It Lasted|date=July 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64821421/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=October 27, 1974|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Detroit Caesars ===
The [[Detroit Caesars]] were a professional softball team that began play in the [[men's professional softball leagues|American Professional Slow Pitch Softball League (APSPL)]] in 1977.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64826778/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=May 29, 1977|page=63|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64826847/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=May 29, 1977|page=68|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The team disbanded after the 1979 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64826906/detroit-free-press/|title=Clipped From Detroit Free Press|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=March 8, 1980|pages=33|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Prior to formalized professional play, a major sponsor of amateur softball in the Detroit area was Little Caesars, who sponsored the 1970 [[American Softball Association]] national championship team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.softballhistoryusa.com/1970-asa-mens-open-slow-pitch-nationals/|title=1970 ASA Men's Open Slow Pitch Nationals – Softball History USA|website=softballhistoryusa.com|date=November 12, 2018 }}</ref> With the formation of a professional league, Ilitch formed a team in his first solo step into professional sports ownership.<ref name=crains>{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090426/SUB01/304269962/baseball-brings-ilitch-full-circle-by-way-of-hockey|title=Baseball brings Ilitch full circle, by way of hockey|date=April 26, 2009|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref>

The Caesars played at Memorial Field in [[East Detroit]] and featured former Detroit Tiger stars [[Jim Northrup (baseball)|Jim Northrup]], [[Mickey Stanley]], [[Jim Price (catcher)|Jim Price]] and [[Norm Cash]], along with established softball players such as Mike Nye, Ronnie Ford, Mike Gouin, Bert Smith, and Tex Collins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://detroitcaesars.weebly.com/|title=Detroit Caesars|website=Detroit Caesars}}</ref> The team was led by manager Gary Vitto, earning the team two championships before disbanding after the 1979 season.<ref name=crains /> Vitto would go on to serve as General Manager of the [[Detroit Drive]] of the [[Arena Football League]] and then served in the front office of the Detroit Tigers, both owned by Ilitch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/classic/obit/s/2001/1210/1292962.html?src=mobile&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22:%22https://www.google.com/%22%7D|title=ESPN Classic - Detroit Tigers executive Gary Vitto dies|website=espn.com}}</ref>

=== Detroit Red Wings ===
In 1982, Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings from Bruce Norris for US$8 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Detroit Tigers, Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch Dies at Age 87 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/detroit-tigers-red-wings-owner-mike-ilitch-dies-45416709 |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=ABC News}}</ref> Over the next two decades, Detroit returned to perennial playoff contention, winning the [[Stanley Cup]] in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008 and appearing in the Finals three times between the 1994–95 and 1997–98 seasons.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2017 |title=Mike Ilitch, who owned Red Wings and Tigers, always had a passion for sports |url=http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2017/02/ilitch_sports_legacy.html |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=MLive}}</ref> The Red Wings added two more championships in 2002 and 2008. Prior to the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]], ''Forbes'' magazine ranked the Red Wings as the fifth-most valuable franchise in the NHL, despite a $16 million operating loss.

For the 2007–2008 hockey season, the team won the President's Trophy for the best record in the NHL for the sixth time—the most of any NHL team since the President's Trophy was introduced in 1985–1986. The Red Wings made the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons through 2015–2016. The 25 consecutive playoff berths were the longest active streak of post-season appearances in all of the North American professional sports, before ending in the 2016–2017 season. It is tied for third all-time in NHL history after 29 [[List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks|consecutive appearances]] by the [[Boston Bruins]] from 1967–1968 to 1995–1996, 28 consecutive trips by the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] from 1969–1970 through 1996–1997, and is tied with the 25 consecutive appearances by the [[St. Louis Blues]] from 1979–1980 to 2003–2004.

=== Detroit Tigers ===
Ilitch purchased the Detroit Tigers in [[1992 Detroit Tigers season|1992]] from fellow pizza magnate [[Tom Monaghan]], the founder of [[Domino's Pizza]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2017/02/billionaire_little_caesars_piz.html|title=Billionaire Little Caesars Pizza founder, sportsman Mike Ilitch has died at 87|date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>  Under his ownership, the Tigers logged losing records in twelve out of thirteen seasons before their turnaround in [[2006 Detroit Tigers season|2006]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/index.shtml|title=Detroit Tigers Team History & Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

After acquiring the team, Ilitch expressed interest in moving the struggling team to a new ballpark.  In 2000, his expectations were realized when the team moved from [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] into the newly built [[Comerica Park]].  He financed approximately 60% of the $350 million facility; the taxpayers of the greater Detroit-[[Wayne County, Michigan|Wayne County]] and federal grants covered the balance. Various Ilitch Holdings, Inc. enterprises manage and operate Comerica Park and its concessions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/comerica-park|title=Comerica Park &#124; Detroit Historical Society|website=detroithistorical.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/comerica-park/|title=Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers ballpark - Ballparks of Baseball}}</ref>

In 2005, the Detroit Tigers hosted [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB's 76th All-Star Game]] at Comerica Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/history/all-star-game/2005/|title=All-Star Game History: 2005|website=Major League Baseball|access-date=April 20, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422142634/http://m.mlb.com/history/all-star-game/2005/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When the Tigers won the AL [[Major League Baseball wild card|Wild Card]] under [[List of Detroit Tigers managers|manager]] [[Jim Leyland]] and general manager [[Dave Dombrowski]] in 2006, they made the playoffs for the first time since [[1987 Detroit Tigers season|1987]]. They also reached the World Series for the first time since [[1984 Detroit Tigers season|1984]], but the Tigers eventually lost in five games to the [[2006 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] in the [[2006 World Series|World Series]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2006.shtml|title=2006 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>  After Dombrowski was brought in, Ilitch steadily agreed to bring in marquee free agents and finance a larger payroll, with the Tigers beginning the [[2008 Detroit Tigers season|2008 season]] as one of the highest-salaried teams in baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2008.shtml|title=2008 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

On September 16, 2011, the Tigers won the [[American League Central|Central]] division title—their first division crown since Ilitch's purchase.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2011.shtml|title=2011 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>  On January 24, 2012, Ilitch signed [[Prince Fielder]] to a nine-year, $214 million contract, the fourth-largest contract in baseball history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7498284/source-detroit-tigers-land-prince-fielder-nine-year-214-million-deal|title=Source: Tigers land Fielder with $214M offer|date=January 24, 2012|website=ESPN}}</ref>  The [[2012 Detroit Tigers season|2012 Tigers]] went all the way to the [[2012 World Series|World Series]], but were swept by the [[2012 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2012.shtml|title=2012 Detroit Tigers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Prior to the 2013 season, Ilitch agreed to sign [[starting pitcher]] [[Justin Verlander]] to a seven-year, $180 million contract extension, at the time the highest single offer ever tendered to a major league pitcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9111981/justin-verlander-detroit-tigers-agrees-deal-which-worth-202-million-sources |title=Justin Verlander of Detroit Tigers agrees to deal which could be worth $202 million, sources|work=ESPN|date=March 29, 2013|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1586040-justin-verlander-signs-5-year-180-million-contract-extension-with-tigers|title=Justin Verlander Signs 5-Year Extension with Detroit Tigers|first=Alex|last=Kay|website=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelinemaynard/2013/03/29/detroit-tigers-gamble-big-with-justin-verlanders-200-million-contract/|title=Detroit Tigers Gamble Big With Justin Verlander's $200 Million Contract|first=Micheline|last=Maynard|website=Forbes}}</ref>  The Tigers won four consecutive AL Central Division titles between 2011 and 2014, but Ilitch's quest for a World Series title was not achieved before his death in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/11/us/mike-ilitch-little-caesars-founder-obit/index.html|title=Little Caesars founder Mike Ilitch dies at 87|author=Matt Rehbein|date=February 11, 2017|website=CNN}}</ref>

=== Detroit Drive ===
Ilitch was one of the early team owners in the [[Arena Football League]], starting up the [[Detroit Drive]] in 1988. The Drive were one of the most successful teams in the early days of the AFL, both on and off the field. They generally had strong attendance, and the Drive were in the [[ArenaBowl]] in every year of their six-year existence, going 4–2 in the title games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2017/02/ilitch_sports_legacy.html|title=Mike Ilitch, who owned Red Wings and Tigers, always had a passion for sports|date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref>

After Ilitch bought the Tigers in 1992 though, he decided he didn't want to own another franchise that would take away fans from the Tigers, so he sold the team and they moved to [[Worcester, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20120122/SUB01/301229966/arena-football-league-wants-rematch-with-detroit|title=Arena Football League wants rematch with Detroit |date=January 22, 2012|author=Bill Shea|publisher=crainsdetroit.com|access-date=September 23, 2013}}</ref>

=== Awards and honors ===

* Inducted into the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] (builder) in 2003 and the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legends of Hockey: Mike Ilitch |url=https://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=B200301 |access-date=October 17, 2025 |website=Hockey Hall of Fame}}</ref>
* Presented with the key to the City of Detroit in February 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2008 |title=Michigan news |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701180726/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080215%2FNEWS06%2F802150360 |access-date=October 17, 2025 |website=Detroit Free Press (archived)}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==

One of Ilitch's first philanthropic efforts was the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, established in 1985. The traveling restaurant was formed to feed the hungry and assist with food provisions during natural disasters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/business/little-caesars-love-kitchen-rolls-through-dothan-to-feed-dothan/article_3f6b0312-2394-11e6-a36f-af4e6c94ee36.html|title=Little Caesars' Love Kitchen rolls through Dothan to feed Dothan Rescue Mission residents|first=Ebony|last=Davis|date=May 26, 2016 |publisher=dothaneagle.com}}</ref> The program has been recognized by former Presidents [[Bill Clinton]], [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Ronald Reagan]], and has served more than 2 million individuals in the United States and Canada.
 
In 2006, inspired by a veteran returning to civilian life after losing both of his legs in the war, Ilitch founded the Little Caesars Veterans Program to provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition from service or seek a career change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-tigers-red-wings-mike-ilitch-20170210-story.html|title=Tigers, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesar's pizza, dies at age 87|work=Chicago Tribune|date=February 10, 2017 }}</ref> Ilitch received the Secretary's Award from the [[U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]] for this program in 2007; it is the highest honor given to a civilian by the department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/det/y2007/m09/d17/c2213608.jsp|title=Veterans Affairs secretary honors Little Caesars founder Michael Ilitch|website=www.mlb.com|access-date=December 7, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919085443/http://www.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/det/y2007/m09/d17/c2213608.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
The Little Caesars Amateur Hockey Program, established by Ilitch in 1968, helped thousands of children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksat.com/news/breaking-detroit-tigers-red-wings-owner-mike-ilitch-dies-at-age-87|title=Little Caesars Pizza founder Mike Ilitch, owner of Detroit Tigers, Red Wings, dies at age 87|first=Derick|last=Hutchinson|date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Ilitch Charities for Children was founded in 2000 as a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of children in the areas of health, education, and recreation.

In 2008, the charity was renamed Ilitch Charities and its focus was broadened. The new charity invests in the community's future by supporting innovative, collaborative and measurable programs that promote economic development and spur job growth, as a means to address social issues such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and hunger.

In 2015, the Ilitch family announced a $40 million gift to [[Wayne State University]] to build the Mike Ilitch School of Business in downtown Detroit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aguilar |first=Louis |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Ilitches to build Wayne State a new business school |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/10/27/ilitch-wayne-state-business-school/74710962/ |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=The Detroit News}}</ref>

According to [[OpenSecrets]], reports required by the [[Federal Election Commission]] from 2002 to 2005 indicate Ilitch Holdings, Inc. members and business partners have contributed more than $500,000 to political campaigns and [[Political action committee|PAC]]s.<ref>[http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MI&last=Ilitch&city=&zip=&xst=&next=0]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224221618/http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MI&last=Ilitch&city=&zip=&xst=&next=0|date=February 24, 2012}}</ref>

After civil rights icon [[Rosa Parks]] was attacked in her Detroit apartment in 1994, Ilitch quietly paid years of Parks's rent to enable her to live in a safer part of Detroit. The arrangement became public years later through press reporting.<ref>{{cite news |last=Manzullo |first=Brian |date=February 16, 2017 |title=When Rosa Parks was robbed, Little Caesars' founder stepped up |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/02/16/little-caesars-founder-mike-ilitch-rosa-parks-rent/97989230/ |access-date=October 17, 2025 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Botta |first=Christopher |date=February 24, 2014 |title=Ilitch aids civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, others |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2014/02/24/Champions/Ilitch-Rosa-Parks.aspx |access-date=October 17, 2025 |magazine=Sports Business Journal}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ilitch was married to [[Marian Ilitch]] (née Bayoff, born 1933), who would go on to become one of the world's wealthiest women.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-03-08|title=The World's Wealthiest Women Are a Rare Breed|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-female-billionaires/|access-date=2020-05-08|website=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> Like Ilitch, his wife was born in Michigan to immigrants from Macedonia.<ref>The Ilitch Family Archived 2012-09-19 at the [[Wayback Machine]], Little Caesars</ref> Together, they had seven children: Denise Ilitch (born 1955), an attorney; Ron Ilitch (1957–2018), who died of a [[fentanyl]] poisoning at the age of 61; Michael Ilitch Jr., a film producer whose credits include [[Lost in Space (film)|''Lost in Space'' (1998)]] and [[The Angriest Man in Brooklyn|''The Angriest Man in Brooklyn'' (2014)]]; [[Christopher Ilitch]] (born 1965), the current CEO of [[Ilitch Holdings]]; Lisa Ilitch Murray, who served as the executive vice president of the [[Detroit Red Wings]]; Atanas Ilitch, an actor and singer whose most notable credit was that of the Driller Killer in [[Slumber Party Massacre II|''Slumber Party Massacre II'' (1987)]]; and Carole Ilitch Trepeck, also an attorney.

The family was presented the key to the City of Detroit by Mayor [[Kwame Kilpatrick]] in February 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NEWS06/802150360 |title=Michigan news |work=Detroit Free Press |date=February 15, 2008 |access-date=September 30, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701180726/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080215%2FNEWS06%2F802150360 |archive-date=July 1, 2015 }}</ref> and were the fifth recipients of this award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/3387/1/In-the-Game-for-12-10-08/Page1.html|title=Page D-1 &#124;|publisher=Michronicleonline.com|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=June 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620191157/http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/3387/1/In-the-Game-for-12-10-08/Page1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Death==
Ilitch died on February 10, 2017, at the age of 87 in Detroit, Michigan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/2017/02/10/ilitch-detroit-pizza-red-wings-tigers-hockey-forbes/91475642/ |title=Tigers, Red Wings owner and pizza titan Mike Ilitch dead at 87 |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|first1=John|last1=Gallagher|first2=Bill|last2=McGraw|date=February 10, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref> The Red Wings wore a patch on their right shoulders in his memory, which featured his nickname “Mr. I” in a rectangle, for the remainder of the season; in addition, the nickname was featured on the ice at Joe Louis Arena, being painted on the center section of the rink, facing the Red Wings' bench.
The Detroit Tigers also wore a black patch with his nickname "Mr. I" in a circle on the right sleeve of their home and away jerseys.<ref>[http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/02/15/red-wings-to-honour-late-owner-with-patch-on-ice-logo/ Red Wings to Honour Late Owner with Patch, On-Ice Logo], [[SportsLogos.net]], February 15, 2017.</ref> In the aftermath of this death, his son, Christopher, took control of Ilitch Holdings and its properties.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame]]
*[[List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*{{Find a Grave|176207191}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{icehockeystats|legendsm=B200301}}
*{{baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br= |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=iltich001mic}}

{{Detroit Tigers}}
{{Detroit Red Wings}}
{{Detroit Tigers owners}}
{{Detroit Tigers Presidents}}
{{Massachusetts Marauders}}
{{Olympia Entertainment}}
{{Arena Football Hall of Fame members}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ilitch, Mike}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2017 deaths]]
[[Category:American billionaires]]
[[Category:American food company founders]]
[[Category:American business executives in the food industry]]
[[Category:American people of Macedonian descent]]
[[Category:Arena Football League executives]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Detroit]]
[[Category:Detroit Red Wings owners]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers executives]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers owners]]
[[Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Lester Patrick Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Little Caesars]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball owners]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball team presidents]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Detroit]]
[[Category:National Hockey League executives]]
[[Category:National Hockey League owners]]
[[Category:Pizza chain founders]]
[[Category:Stanley Cup champions]]
[[Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Ilitch family|Mike]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Cooley High School alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Detroit]]