Bruce Halle, the billionaire founder of the nationwide Discount Tire chain, has died. He was 87.
Officials of the company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, say Halle died Thursday in his sleep.
A cause of death wasn't immediately released.
Halle founded Discount Tire in 1960 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and started with an inventory of six tires including four retreads.
He began the business as a way to support his wife and three young children and was the lone employee of the first store.
The company grew to become the largest independent tire dealer in North America and now has 975 stores in 34 states and more than 20,000 employees.
Forbes magazine lists Halle as the richest person in Arizona, with a net worth of more than $5 billion.
Funeral plans are pending.
