Born William Crapo Durant on December 8th, 1861 in Boston Massachusetts, Billy Durant went on to become one of the most colorful and influential auto manufacturers ever. While still young his family moved to Flint Michigan, where he attended public school. Never finishing his education, at the age of sixteen he dropped out of high school to work in his grandfather's lumberyard. Soon after he went into business for himself building horse-drawn carriages. By 1890, he and his partner, Josiah Dallas Dort, operated the nation's largest carriage company, Durant-Dort Carriage, producing approximately 50,000 horse-drawn vehicles a year.

In 1904 Durant joined the struggling Buick Company as General Manager. Three years later Buick was the leader in U.S. automobile production. Shortly after, Durant was made Buick's president. Durant then set his sights on developing his concept of a huge auto manufacturing giant, which would include all the leading auto companies in the U.S.

With a small capital investment of $2,000, Durant incorporated General Motors of New Jersey (GM) on September 16, 1908. In less than two weeks the company issued stock that generated over $12,000,000. General Motors then purchased Buick. Six weeks later, GM acquired the Olds Corporation of Lansing, Michigan. In the following months, Durant's business savvy enabled him to acquire the troubled Oakland Company (soon to be renamed Pontiac), Cadillac, and many parts and supply companies including AC-Delco.

In less than two years Durant had bought out many corporations. However, this whirlwind of purchasing came at a price. Durant had become financially overextended and lost control of GM to banking interests in 1910. This setback did not slow him down.

The next year, 1911, he partnered with Louis Chevrolet to form the Chevrolet Motor Company. He then used the profits from Chevrolet to regain control of GM in 1915. Again, Durant's aggressive management style, which had gained him GM twice, cost him control of GM. He resigned in 1920. Next, in 1921, he formed Durant Motors, which lasted for a little over ten years, succumbing to a declining market and the Great Depression in 1933. This essentially ended Billy Durant’s career as an auto manufacturer.

Durant never regained his previous notoriety as an industrialist or innovator. He went on to own a chain of bowling alleys. He believed that bowling alleys were the wave of the future. Unfortunately for Durant, they were not as successful as he hoped. In his waning years he experimented in politics, dabbled in stocks, and participated in social issues. William Durant died in New York City on March 18th, 1947, the same year as Henry Ford, ending an era.