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J. B. Pritzker

J. B. Pritzker

Born 1965 · Age 60

American businessman and Democratic politician; member of the Pritzker family; co-founder of multiple venture and incubator ventures; serving as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019.

Total Events
57
Career Span
60 years
Peak Net Worth
$3,700,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1965Age 0

Born in Palo Alto / Atherton, California

Jay Robert 'JB' Pritzker born to Donald and Sue (Sandel) Pritzker. Youngest of three children of the Pritzker family.

1/19/1965Source
Confidence
99%
1972Age 7

Death of father Donald Pritzker

Donald Pritzker, president of Hyatt Hotels and JB's father, died of a heart attack at age 39; JB later moved in with relatives Jay and Cindy Pritzker.

1/1/1972Source
Confidence
98%
1980Age 15

Early political staff roles (1980s)

Served on legislative staffs of Rep. Tom Lantos, Sen. Terry Sanford, and Sen. Alan Dixon while involved in college/political work in the 1980s (exact years varied).

1/1/1980Source
Confidence
75%
1982Age 17

Death of mother Sue Pritzker

JB's mother Sue Pritzker died in an alcohol-related automobile accident at age 49; a formative family tragedy in his youth.

1/1/1982Source
Confidence
98%
1983Age 18

Graduated Milton Academy (approx.)

Attended Milton Academy boarding school in Massachusetts (exact graduation year not stated; estimated based on college timeline).

1/1/1983Source
Confidence
55%
1987Age 22

Bachelor of Arts, Duke University

Graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in political science (attended Georgetown earlier then transferred to Duke).

1/1/1987Source
Confidence
98%
1993Age 28

Married Mary Kathryn (M.K.) Muenster

Married MK Muenster; couple later settled in Evanston, Illinois, and have two children.

1/1/1993Source
Confidence
95%
1993Age 28

Juris Doctor, Northwestern University School of Law

Earned a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law; admitted to practice law in Illinois (member of state & Chicago Bar associations).

1/1/1993Source
Confidence
99%
1993Age 28

Established campaign committee and founded DL21C (approx.)

Set up a campaign committee (used in future congressional run) and founded Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century to attract under-40 voters (exact founding year early 1990s).

1/1/1993Source
Confidence
70%
1996Age 31

Founded New World Ventures (later Pritzker Group VC)

With brother Tony, founded New World Ventures (a private equity/venture investment group later renamed Pritzker Group Venture Capital in 2013).

1/1/1996Source
Confidence
90%
1996Age 31

Campaign fundraising: raised >$120,000 by end of 1996

By the end of the 1996 election cycle, his campaign committee (for potential congressional runs) had raised more than $120,000 and spent most on operating expenses.

1/1/1996Source
Confidence
90%
1997Age 32

Reconstituted congressional campaign committee

Reconstituted his campaign committee in April 1997 in preparation for the 1998 Democratic primary for Illinois's 9th congressional district.

4/1/1997Source
Confidence
92%
1998Age 33

Ran in Democratic primary for Illinois's 9th congressional district

Competed in a high-profile Democratic primary; finished third among five candidates with 20.5% of the vote, losing to Jan Schakowsky.

1/1/1998Source
Confidence
95%
1998Age 33

Self‑funded congressional campaign spending (~$1.0M)

Spent nearly $1 million of his own money on the 1998 primary (including roughly $500,000 on TV ads in Chicago market); some sources cite up to $1.5M.

1/1/1998Source
Confidence
88%
2003Age 38

Appointed Chair, Illinois Human Rights Commission

Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Pritzker to chair the Illinois Human Rights Commission (served from April 1, 2003 to July 26, 2006).

4/1/2003Source
Confidence
99%
2006Age 41

Stepped down as Chair, Illinois Human Rights Commission

Left the chairmanship on July 26, 2006; succeeded by Abner Mikva.

7/26/2006Source
Confidence
99%
2008Age 43

Chicagoland Chamber Entrepreneurial Champion Award

Received the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneurial Champion Award for promoting economic development and job creation.

1/1/2008Source
Confidence
95%
2008Age 43

National co-chair, Hillary Clinton presidential campaign

Served as national co-chair for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential bid and was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

1/1/2008Source
Confidence
97%
2008Age 43

Recorded FBI wiretap conversation with Rod Blagojevich (2008)

Participated in a 2008 conversation with then-Governor Blagojevich about possible appointment opportunities; tapes later released in 2017. No charges brought against Pritzker.

1/1/2008Source
Confidence
95%
2012Age 47

Chair of ChicagoNEXT and founded 1871

Recruited by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to chair ChicagoNEXT; founded 1871, a nonprofit digital startup incubator in Chicago, to foster entrepreneurship and tech.

1/1/2012Source
Confidence
95%
2013Age 48

Pritzker Group rebrand (New World Ventures → Pritzker Group VC)

The investment group JB co-founded earlier evolved and was rebranded over time; sources note the group was renamed Pritzker Group Venture Capital in 2013.

1/1/2013Source
Confidence
85%
2016Age 51

Delegate to 2016 Democratic National Convention

Served as a delegate to the 2016 DNC; was an active Democratic Party donor and backer in multiple cycles.

1/1/2016Source
Confidence
95%
2017Age 52

Announced candidacy for Governor of Illinois

Formally announced run for the Democratic nomination for governor on April 6, 2017.

4/6/2017Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
90%
2017Age 52

Selected running mate Juliana Stratton

Announced State Representative Juliana Stratton as his lieutenant governor running mate on August 10, 2017.

8/10/2017Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2017Age 52

Campaign self‑funding: $42M spent by Dec 2017

By December 2017, Pritzker had spent approximately $42 million of his own money on his gubernatorial campaign.

12/1/2017Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2018Age 53

Total campaign self‑funding for 2018 cycle: $171.5M

Pritzker spent approximately $171.5 million of his own money on the 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

1/1/2018Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2018Age 53

Won Democratic primary for Governor

Won a crowded Democratic primary on March 20, 2018 with 45.13% of the vote, defeating five opponents.

3/20/2018Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2018Age 53

Elected Governor of Illinois, defeating Bruce Rauner

Defeated incumbent Republican Bruce Rauner in the general election, receiving 54.53% to Rauner's 38.83% on November 6, 2018.

11/6/2018Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
99%
2019Age 54

Estimated net worth reported at ~$3.6B

Media reported Pritzker's estimated net worth at about $3.6 billion in January 2019, making him among the wealthiest elected officials in the U.S.

1/1/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
90%
2019Age 54

Inaugurated as 43rd Governor of Illinois

Sworn in on January 14, 2019 as governor; began administration priorities on fiscal policy, education, healthcare and criminal justice reform.

1/14/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
99%
2019Age 54

Signed minimum wage increase to $15 by 2025

Signed legislation on Feb 19, 2019 raising Illinois' minimum wage to $15/hour phased in by 2025; includes tax credits for small businesses.

2/19/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2019Age 54

Signed $40B balanced budget for FY2019–20

On June 5, 2019 signed a bipartisan $40 billion balanced budget, funding increases across education and human services; expected $150M surplus was planned to pay down $6B unpaid bill backlog.

6/5/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
97%
2019Age 54

Signed Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act

On June 25, 2019 signed legalization and regulation of adult-use recreational cannabis; law effective Jan 1, 2020; expungements and community reinvestment provisions included.

6/25/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
99%
2019Age 54

Pardoned ~11,000 people for low-level cannabis convictions

On Dec 31, 2019 issued pardons to roughly 11,000 people previously convicted of low-level cannabis offenses after legalization.

12/31/2019Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
97%
2020Age 55

Cannabis legal sales begin; first-month tax revenue ~$10.4M

After Jan 1, 2020 legalization, first month of legal cannabis sales generated ~ $10.4 million in tax revenue for Illinois.

1/1/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 55

Launched 'Restore Illinois' reopening plan

On May 5, 2020 announced the five-phase 'Restore Illinois' plan splitting the state into regions for staggered reopening.

1/1/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 55

Closed public and private schools due to COVID-19

Declared on March 13, 2020 that schools would be closed from March 17 through March 31 in response to COVID-19.

3/13/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2020Age 55

Ordered closure of bars & restaurants (limited to takeout/delivery)

On March 15, 2020 ordered closure of bars and restaurants (except for delivery/takeout) to curb COVID-19 spread.

3/15/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2020Age 55

Issued statewide stay‑at‑home order

On March 20, 2020 issued a stay-at-home order (effective March 21) closing non-essential businesses; initial end date early April, later extended.

3/20/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
99%
2020Age 55

Extended tax filing deadline & authorized ~$90M small business aid

On March 25, 2020 extended Illinois tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15 and announced emergency assistance programs providing small businesses access to over $90 million in aid.

3/25/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 55

Extended stay‑at‑home through May 29

On April 23, 2020 extended the stay-at-home order through May 29 with modifications; restrictions included church gathering limits.

4/23/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 55

Enacted statewide mask mandate

On May 1, 2020 enacted a statewide public mask mandate to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.

5/1/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
98%
2020Age 55

Announced Illinois would receive 109,000 initial Pfizer vaccine doses

On Dec 4, 2020 announced Illinois would receive 109,000 initial doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine after FDA approval.

12/4/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2020Age 55

Announced expungement of ~500,000 cannabis arrest records

On Dec 31, 2020 announced expungement of approximately 500,000 non‑felony cannabis-related arrest records as part of justice reforms.

12/31/2020Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
97%
2021Age 56

Announced mass-vaccination site at United Center

On Feb 26, 2021 announced that eligible Illinoisans could get vaccinated starting March 10 at a new mass vaccination site at the United Center.

2/26/2021Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 56

Mask requirement for entry to state buildings

On July 29, 2021 announced everyone who enters a state building must wear a face mask regardless of vaccination status.

7/29/2021Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 56

Reimposed statewide indoor mask mandate and vaccine requirements

On Aug 26, 2021 announced indoor mask mandate (effective Aug 30) and vaccine mandates for education employees and many healthcare workers; weekly testing for noncompliant individuals.

8/26/2021Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2021Age 56

Imposed vaccine mandate for many students, educators and health workers

On Sept 19, 2021 began imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for college students, educators, and most health care workers in Illinois.

9/19/2021Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
94%
2022Age 57

Cannabis cumulative sales revenue milestones (through 2022)

Cannabis sales generated over $52 million by July 2020 and totaled $445.3 million by the end of 2022 (tax revenue figures).

1/1/2022Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
93%
2022Age 57

Won Democratic primary for reelection

Won the June 28, 2022 Democratic primary for governor (ran with Juliana Stratton again).

6/28/2022Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
95%
2022Age 57

Reelected Governor of Illinois, defeating Darren Bailey

Defeated Republican Darren Bailey on Nov 8, 2022 with 54.91% of the vote to Bailey's 42.37%; began second term Jan 9, 2023.

11/8/2022Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
99%
2023Age 58

Illinois Supreme Court upholds elimination of cash bail

In July 2023 the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the earlier criminal justice reform (which eliminated cash bail) constitutional and set implementation in Sept 2023 (Pritzker had signed the reform in Feb 2021).

1/1/2023Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
85%
2023Age 58

Second term begins (official term start date)

Second gubernatorial term officially began on January 9, 2023 (some sources list term start as Jan 9 or Jan 11 dates; inauguration/start of second term in January 2023).

1/11/2023Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
90%
2023Age 58

Signed assault weapons & high-capacity magazine ban

On Jan 11, 2023 signed legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; law immediately took effect but was temporarily enjoined on Jan 20, 2023 before the Illinois Supreme Court allowed it to stand.

1/11/2023Net Worth: $3,600,000,000Source
Confidence
88%
2024Age 59

Forbes net worth estimate ~$3.5B (Feb 2024)

Forbes magazine estimated JB Pritzker's net worth at approximately $3.5 billion in February 2024, listing him among the wealthiest elected officials.

1/1/2024Net Worth: $3,500,000,000Source
Confidence
90%
2025Age 60

Governor's office reports major policy & economic milestones (by 2025)

Governor's office summary (2025) cites balanced budgets, elimination of bill backlog, nine credit rating upgrades, infrastructure investments, EV and quantum computing investments and Illinois economy topping $1 trillion.

1/1/2025Net Worth: $3,700,000,000Source
Confidence
60%
2025Age 60

Forbes net worth update ~$3.7B (May 2025)

As of May 2025, Forbes estimated JB Pritzker's net worth at approximately $3.7 billion.

5/1/2025Net Worth: $3,700,000,000Source
Confidence
95%

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