Lee IacoccaLee Iacocca, pictured in February 1989, died Tuesday at the age of 94. Under his leadership he brought Chrysler back from the brink of bankruptcy. He is also considered the father of the Mustang, which he helped develop during his stint at Ford.Jul 3, 2019
Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca (/ˌaɪ. əˈkoʊkə/ EYE-ə-KOH-kə; October 15, 1924 – July 2, 2019) was an American automobile executive best known for the development of the Ford Mustang and Ford Pinto cars while at the Ford Motor Company in the 1960s, and for reviving the Chrysler Corporation as its CEO during the 1980s.
Iacocca did not invent the minivan, any more than Ray Kroc invented McDonald's. Rather, both men had the vision to see the massive potential of their respective products and the will and smarts to bring them to market.Jul 7, 2019
Ford Mustang15, 2022. Auto industry icon Lee Iacocca, once one of America's highest profile business executives and credited with rescuing Chrysler from near-bankruptcy in the 1980s, has died. He was 94. He was instrumental in the creation of the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler minivan.Jul 3, 2019
July 2, 2019Lee Iacocca / Date of death
Iacocca told Automotive News in July 1978 that he was canned because Henry Ford II didn't “want strong guys around.” Ford dismissed Iacocca to prevent him from becoming the company's CEO, Ford later said in an interview before his death in 1987.Jul 2, 2019
Engineer Donald Frey developed the Mustang over an 18-month period. While Henry Ford II didn't approve the project at first, Frey quietly worked under Iacocca's supervision. When Ford finally approved, it was with the understanding that if the project failed, Frey would lose his job.Sep 10, 2019
Over a hundred years ago, we recognized the need for a vehicle that could take on heavy loads and not back down from any job. The result? Mercedes-Benz invented the van. That first van paved the way for an entirely new segment and set the standard for others to follow.
Iacocca won a place in business history when he pulled Chrysler, now part of Fiat Chrysler, from the brink of collapse in 1980, rallying support in U.S. Congress for $1.2 billion in federally guaranteed loans and persuading suppliers, dealers and union workers to make sacrifices. He cut his salary to $1 a year.Jul 2, 2019
Cleo Shelbym. 1997–2012Lena Dahl Shelbym. 1991–1997Jan Harrisonm. 1962–1962Jeanne Fieldsm. 1943–1960Carroll Shelby/Spouse
Christine Feuell (Sep 13, 2021–)Chrysler / CEO
$150 millionThe auto tycoon died at age 94 in 2019 after battling Parkinson's disease. He reportedly had a net worth of $150 million.Apr 1, 2020