Jay Pritzker, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Passes Away

A Business Legacy

WEB Jay Arthur Pritzker (August 26, 1922 - January 23, 1999) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a co-founder of the Marmon Group and co-founder of Hyatt Hotels.

Political Leader

His son, Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker (born January 19, 1965), is an American Democratic politician and businessman. He has served as the 43rd Governor of Illinois since 2019.

Jay Pritzker was born on August 26, 1922, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Abram Nicholas Pritzker and Fanny Doppelt Pritzker. Jay Pritzker graduated from Harvard University in 1947, and then from the University of Chicago Law School in 1950. He began his career as a lawyer, but soon became involved in business.

Jay Pritzker's hunch in the 1950s that America's restless business executives would flock to hotels near airports prompted him to invest in the hospitality industry. In 1957, he co-founded Hyatt Hotels with his brother, Donald Pritzker. Hyatt Hotels is now one of the world's largest hotel chains.