 In 2014, "Fortune Magazine" listed Rent-A-Center at number 711 on the Fortune 1000 list of the largest U.S. corporations, based on revenues alone.Competitors include Aaron's, Inc., easyhome, Best Buy Co. Inc., and Walmart Stores.The rent-to-own business was started by Ernie Talley in Wichita, Kansas during the 1960s when he told customers of his store, Mr. T's Rental, that they had rented a washer and dryer for a long enough duration that they had paid for it in full and now owned it.