Jay Pritzker | |
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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. He was a founder of the Hyatt Corporation, having purchased the first Hyatt Hotel in 1957, and was responsible for the corporation's evolution into a multinational hospitality conglomerate.
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]
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. He was a founder of the Hyatt Corporation, having purchased the first Hyatt Hotel in 1957, and was responsible for the corporation's evolution into a multinational hospitality conglomerate.
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]