Chris Ilitch

Christopher Ilitch

• School University of Michigan

• Born June 1965 in Detroit, MI USA

Biographical Information

Chris Ilitch is the principal owner of the Detroit Tigers, having inherited the team after the passing of his father, Mike Ilitch, in February 2017.

He is the sixth of seven children born to Mike and Marian Ilitch, and in 2004 rose to become President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, a privately-held company overseeing much of the family's business interests, including Little Caesar's Pizza, the Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Mike Ilitch had planned his succession carefully, paving the way for a smooth takeover by Chris. His son was already well-known in baseball circles, having begun to attend owners' meetings a few years before taking over for his father. He was also heavily involved in plans launched by his father to revitalize areas of Detroit, MI through re-development projects.

Further Reading

• Jim Lynch: "Son Christopher rises to fill Ilitch’s big shoes", The Detroit News, February 14, 2017. [1]
• JC Reindl: "Chris Ilitch now in charge of dad's empire under succession plan", The Detroit Free Press, February 10, 2017. [2]

Related Sites

• Article on Mike Ilitch's succession
• Official biography from Ilitch Holdings