Little Caesars is owned by the Ilitch family through Ilitch Holdings, the Detroit-based conglomerate founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959. Christopher Ilitch, one of their seven children, now serves as CEO and President of Ilitch Holdings, while Marian Ilitch remains chairman.
Pizza is just one piece of the empire — Ilitch Holdings also owns the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, along with Olympia Entertainment and significant Detroit real estate holdings. In 2026, the family has been pushing aggressively into a new industry entirely: casino gaming. Through a new venture called Ilitch Gaming, they’ve agreed to purchase the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi, and to buy out the 50% of Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort they didn’t already own.
Quick Facts
| Company | Little Caesars (via Ilitch Holdings) |
|---|---|
| Owning Family | Ilitch family |
| Ilitch Holdings CEO/President | Christopher Ilitch |
| Chairman | Marian Ilitch |
| Founded | 1959, Garden City, Michigan |
| 2026 Expansion | Ilitch Gaming — Scarlet Pearl Casino (Mississippi) acquisition + full Ocean Casino Resort (Atlantic City) buyout |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Mike and Marian Ilitch found Little Caesars in Garden City, Michigan |
| 1982 | Ilitch family acquires the Detroit Red Wings |
| 1992 | Ilitch family acquires the Detroit Tigers |
| 2017 | Mike Ilitch passes away; Christopher Ilitch continues leading Ilitch Holdings as CEO and President, with Marian Ilitch as chairman |
| 2026 | Family launches Ilitch Gaming, agreeing to acquire Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in Mississippi and the remaining 50% stake in Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Little Caesars remains one of the few major national pizza chains still fully controlled by its founding family, now into its second generation of leadership under Christopher Ilitch.
- The Ilitch family’s diversification from pizza into professional sports and now casino gaming shows a deliberate strategy of reinvesting restaurant wealth into other Detroit-anchored and expanding business lines.
- Both Detroit franchises the family owns — the Red Wings and Tigers — remain closely tied to the same Ilitch Holdings umbrella as Little Caesars, making Detroit sports and pizza intertwined under one family’s control.
FAQ
Who owns Little Caesars?
The Ilitch family, through Ilitch Holdings. Christopher Ilitch serves as CEO and President, with Marian Ilitch as chairman.
What other businesses does the Ilitch family own?
Beyond Little Caesars, they own the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, extensive Detroit real estate, and — as of 2026 — an expanding casino gaming portfolio through Ilitch Gaming.
