William J. Pulte

William John Pulte was the founder and chairman of PulteGroup, one of the largest home construction and real estate development companies in the United States.

Early life and education
William J. Pulte attended De La Salle Collegiate School in Detroit. He was a three sport varsity athlete in football, track and basketball.

Career
In 1950, just after graduating high school, William J. Pulte and 5 friends built a 5-room bungalow near Detroit City Airport, which they sold for $10,000.

In 1956, he founded William J. Pulte Inc. In 1959, he built his first subdivision.

In 2016, after Richard Dugas Jr., the former chief executive officer of the company, moved the headquarters of the company from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to Atlanta and initiated a change in direction for the company, William J. Pulte, who owned 9% of the company at the time, pressured Dugas to resign. Dugas resigned, and the stock price fell 6.57%.

Death
William J. Pulte had 14 children (and was predeceased by one). He divorced his first wife, and married Karen Koppal in 1993. William J. Pulte died at his home in Naples, Florida, on March 7, 2018, at the age of 85.