Jay Pritzker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jay Arthur Pritzker August 26, 1922 |
| Died | January 23, 1999 (aged 76) |
| Education | University of Chicago Northwestern University (BS, JD) |
| Known for | Co-founder of Hyatt Corporation |
| Spouse | Cindy Friend |
| Children | 5, including Thomas, John, Daniel, Gigi |
| Parent | Abram Nicholas Pritzker (father) |
| Relatives | See Pritzker family |
Jay Arthur Pritzker (August 26, 1922 – January 23, 1999) was an American entrepreneur, conglomerate organizer, and member of the Pritzker family.
Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois to Jewish parents. Pritzker's grandparents emigrated to the United States in 1881.[1] A son of Fanny (née Doppelt) and Abram Nicholas Pritzker, he had two brothers: Donald and Robert Pritzker.[2] At the age of 14, Pritzker was admitted to the University of Chicago.[3] He then went on to graduate with a B.S. from Northwestern University in 1941 and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1947.[2][4][5] Pritzker served in WWII as a naval aviator.[6]
Pritzker diversified the Chicago-based family business—which then consisted of the Pritzker & Pritzker law firm run by his uncle, Harry, and the investments made by his father and his uncle, Jack — into the Marmon Group holding company.[citation needed] With his brother, Robert, he built a portfolio of 60 diversified industrial corporations. He created the Hyatt Hotel chain in 1957 with his brother Donald Pritzker and owned Braniff Airlines from 1983–1988.[citation needed]
In 1979 he established the Pritzker Architecture Prize. In 1982, he acquired Ticketmaster and expanded it before selling 80% for more than $325 million to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 1993.[7][8][9]
In 1979, Pritzker received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[10]
In 1996, he and his wife, Cindy, received the National Building Museum's Honor Award.[11] In 2004, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, designed by architect Frank Gehry, was completed as part of Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.[citation needed]
Pritzker was married to Marian "Cindy" Friend, the daughter of Illinois appellate judge Hugo Friend,[12][13] for 51 years.[14][15] They had five children:[16]
