AGE: 70 OCCUPATION: Founder and chairman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Foodies love to cluck that the head of Chicago’s biggest restaurant group has lost his golden touch—or that he has passed the mantle to sons R.J. and Jerrod (see “Power Siblings”). Said foodies are usually eating at one of Melman’s 75 packed restaurants at the time.

MORE ON MELMAN: The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Restaurateur

RELATED: Most Powerful Ex-Chicagoans | Power Couples | Power Siblings | Up-and-Comers | Poll: Which Powerful Chicagoan Would You Call Back First? | Quiz: Do You Know Chicago’s Power Players? | Back to all 100

Photograph: Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune