Date of Birth: March 25, 1937
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Biography
Thomas Stephen Monaghan, born on March 25, 1937, is an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of Domino’s Pizza. Raised in foster homes and orphanages after his father’s death and his mother’s inability to care for him, Monaghan’s early life was marked by hardship. Despite these challenges, he developed a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. He attended Ferris State University and later the University of Michigan, where he studied architecture before dropping out to focus on his burgeoning business. In 1960, Monaghan and his brother James bought a small pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which they renamed Domino’s Pizza. Under Monaghan’s leadership, the company grew rapidly, thanks to its innovative 30-minute delivery guarantee and franchise model. By the time he sold his controlling stake in the company to Bain Capital in 1998, Domino’s had become one of the world’s largest pizza chains. Monaghan is also known for his philanthropy and devout Catholic faith. He founded Ave Maria University and Ave Maria School of Law, and has been involved in numerous charitable activities, particularly those aligned with his religious beliefs. He has also spent considerable resources on promoting pro-life causes and traditional family values.
5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Monaghan
1. Thomas Monaghan originally dreamed of becoming an architect before diving into the pizza business.
2. He sold his controlling stake in Domino’s Pizza to Bain Capital in 1998 for approximately $1 billion.
3. Monaghan was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and even built Domino’s headquarters with a design influenced by Wright’s architectural style.
4. He founded the Ave Maria Foundation, which supports Catholic education and pro-life causes.
5. Monaghan is a car enthusiast and once owned the Detroit Tigers baseball team from 1983 to 1992.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Monaghan
1. “I believe in the old saying that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
2. “The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire, not things we fear.”
3. “I built Domino’s on a simple principle: Deliver a quality product, on time, and people will come back.”
4. “I have always believed that business is a calling. It’s how you serve God and your fellow man.”
5. “Mistakes are the stepping stones to learning and growth.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Thomas Monaghan was approximately $1 billion.
Children
Thomas Monaghan has four daughters with his wife, Marjorie Zybach. Their names are Margaret, Susan, Mary, and Barbara.
Relevant Links
1. [Thomas Monaghan – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Monaghan
2. [Domino’s Pizza – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino%27s_Pizza
3. [Ave Maria University](https://www.avemaria.edu/
