The Pattison family in Canada founded the Jim Pattison Group, a group of companies with over 30 divisions, including automotive, entertainment, packaging, food and forest products. Jim Pattison founded the family business in 1961, which is now the second-largest privately-held company in Canada.
At age 33, Jim left his position at a car dealership to open a General Motors dealership of his own. His innovation of allowing car buyers to pay in instalments pioneered the car leasing industry in Canada.
Jim expanded the business in 1967, beginning with a takeover of the outdoor advertising firm, Neon Products. He would make 200 subsequent acquisitions for the Pattison Group over the decades, including the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Canadian rights in 1985.
Jim’s son, Jim Pattison, Jr., runs the Group’s Ripley’s division, while his daughters, Cynthia and Mary Ann Pattison, do not hold positions in the family business.
Jim Pattison has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion and is considered the third-richest Canadian.
