Domino’s Pizza Franchise -- An American Dream

The story of Tom Monaghan, CEO of the multi-billion dollar Domino’s pizza chain, is one of the best “rags to riches” stories in American History. When Tom’s mother could no longer support Tom and his brother, Jim, on her $27.50 a week salary, she was forced to give them up. The brothers were in and out of foster homes and orphanages for most of their childhoods. Inspired by the story of impoverished Abraham Lincoln, who worked hard and became President of the United States, Tom decided he wanted only the best out of life.

Tom sold newspapers and even got a job setting up pins in a bowling alley. Later on he joined the Marines in order to get the college education he couldn’t afford. Then in 1960 Tom and Jim borrowed $900 to buy Dominick’s Pizzeria in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a year later Tom traded a Volkswagen Beetle to his brother for his half of the company renaming it, “Dominos.” In his first 13 years, Tom took only one vacation and that was to marry his wife, Marge.

Today, Domino’s Pizza is a Mega-Brand with approximately $5.1 billion in global retail sales as of 2006, including $3.2 billion domestically and almost $1.9 billion internationally. Tom Monaghan attributes his success in his own words to this: “I have 5 priorities in life and they are spiritual, social, mental, physical, and financial. My faith has kept me going throughout my life...especially during the most challenging times.”