2018 annotated list of billionaires who impact Chicago
March 23rd, 2018
UPDATED March 24–The 2018 Forbes list of billionaires includes wealthy folks who may not reside permanently in Chicago–like Mark Pincus, who grew up in the Windy City before going on to found an internet company (or two). Note, Jeff Bezos is No. 1 on the list, and though Chicago might be on his radar for Amazon HQ2, it’s not here yet. Here’s the annotated list of billionaires connected to Chicago:
No. 127, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina, $11.8 billion (The Italian businessman has told me he visits Walgreens’ Chicago-area headquarters regularly.)
Ken Griffin
No. 172, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, $9 billion (He’s the wealthiest resident living in Illinois.)
No. 217, Flex-N-Gate owner Shahid Khan, $7.2 billion (splits his time between Illinois and Florida, where he’s owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars)
No. 372, filmmaker George Lucas, $5.2 billion (splits his time between California and Illinois; is married to Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson)
No. 404, Equity Group Investments Chairman Sam Zell, $4.9 billion
No. 441, Reyes Holdings Co-Chairmen Chris Reyes and Jude Reyes, $4.7 billion (they’re brothers who count Florida as their home but remain part of the Chicago fabric in business and philanthropy)
No. 527, Pritzker Organization Chairman and CEO Tom Pritzker, $4.1 billion
No. 652, Pritzker Group Managing Partner Tony Pritzker, $3.5 billion (brother of J.B. and Penny Pritzker)
No. 652, Pritzker Group Managing Partner J.B. Pritzker, $3.5 billion (brother of Tony and Penny Pritzker)
No. 729, Walton Street Capital founder Neil Bluhm, $3.2 billion (along with real-estate, he has numerous gambling properties)
No. 791, Madison Wells Media principal Gigi Pritzker, $3 billion (sister of Tom and John)
No.822, Koch Foods CEO Joe Grendys, $2.9 billion
Penny Pritzker
No. 859, PSP investment firm Chairman Penny Pritzker, $2.8 billion (sister of J.B. and Tony)
No. 859, Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter, $2.8 billion
No. 859, Wrigley Management CEO Bill Wrigley Jr., $2.8 billion (he’s sold his Chicago homes but has a behind-the-scenes presence in the community)
No. 887, Beanie Babies maker Ty Inc. founder Ty Warner, $2.7 billion
No. 887, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, $2.7 billion (she’ll always be part of Chicago’s fabric)
No. 924, Ryan Specialty Group founder Pat Ryan, $2.6 billion
No. 965, Morningstar CEO Joe Mansueto, $2.5 billion
No. 1070, TD Ameritrade foundeer Joe Ricketts, $2.3 billion (his children own/run the Chicago Cubs)
Charles Bronfman
No. 1020, Canadian businessman Charles Bronfman, (his daughter is Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, whose husband Andrew Hauptman owns the Chicago Fire), $2.4 billion
No. 1,023, Geolo Capital CEO John Pritzker, $2.4 billion (lives in California but travels often to Chicago–he’s behind the revamped Chicago Athletic Association Hotel; brother of Tom and Gigi)
No. 1,103, Groupon CEO Eric Lefkofsky, $2.2 billion
No. 1284, Tawani Enterprises CEO Jennifer Pritzker, $1.9 billion (sister of Matthew and Liesel)
No. 1477, Sears Holdings CEO Eddie Lampert, $1.6 billion
No. 1,477, sports mogul Michael Jordan, $1.6 billion (he’s forever synonymous with the Bulls)
No. 1,560, businessman Nick Pritzker, $1.5 billion (splits his time between California and Chicago and is uncle to Penny, J.B., Tony, Jennifer, Tom, Gigi, John)
Mark Pincus
No. 1561, Zynga founder Mark Pincus, $1.5 billion (He was raised in Chicago, attended Francis Park School and still has family in the city)
No. 1650, Computer Discount Warehouse founder Michael Krasny, $1.4 billion
No. 1,650, Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, $1.4 billion (note, he says he isn’t a billionaire and shouldn’t be on this list)
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