Former Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr., dead at 87
- Former Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett died on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at age 87. The team confirmed his passing in a statement on Wednesday.
- In 2001, Gillett purchased the Canadiens and the Molson Centre for $275 million, utilizing $140 million in loans. He sold both to the Molson Group in 2009.
- Beyond hockey, Gillett owned English Premier League club Liverpool alongside American Tom Hicks from 2007 to 2010. His portfolio also included management interests in the Harlem Globetrotters and Miami Dolphins.
- Canadiens CEO Geoff Molson extended condolences to the family, stating, "George immersed himself in the Montreal community and was appreciated by everyone in the organization."
- Before his hockey tenure, Gillett modernized Vail Associates and hosted the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships. He died at a memory care facility in Denver after battling Alzheimer's.
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56 Articles
Aspen Times
Ski industry innovator and former Vail owner George Gillett dies after battle with Alzheimer’s
George Gillett Jr., the charismatic former owner of Vail Associates who opened up global markets to one of the nation’s most popular ski resorts during his tenure in the late 1980s, died Tuesday at a memory care facility in Denver after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Gillett, born Oct. 22, 1938, in Wisconsin, was 87 years old when he died around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22. A meat-packing and media mogul with various sports team interests — …
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George Gillett Jr. left his mark on NASCAR’s premier series during a pivotal period for two storied organizations. In 2007, he purchased a controlling stake in Evernham Motorsports from founder Ray Evernham, creating Gillett Evernham Motorsports and helping guide the team to two Cup Series victories with Kasey Kahne. The organization later merged with Petty […]
George Gillett, an American businessman who owned Liverpool between 2007 and 2010, has died of Alzheimer's disease.
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