2 & 3 Who’s No. 2? Get Ready to Rumble By Dave McKinney Bruce Rauner Occupation: Governor, State of Illinois Age: 59 The newbie GOP gov who once used a sledgehammer as a campaign prop Mike Madigan Occupation: Speaker, Illinois House Age: 72 The immovable legislative force known as the Velvet Hammer Rauner may … Read more
Everyone focuses on Mike Madigan as the chokepoint where Democrats can stymie Bruce Rauner. But don’t forget Cullerton and his 39-member supermajority. He is just as potent as Madigan for potentially hamstringing the new governor on any budget cuts or labor-unfriendly initiatives that Rauner might push at the statehouse.
Nesbitt spent a lot of 2014 being courted by suitors for the Obama presidential library, from Hawaii to New York. But the president’s BFF did some wining and dining of his own, raising upwards of $6.2 million during the Obama Foundation’s first year. Nesbitt’s stock also rises because his newish midmarket private equity firm amassed … Read more
What do you do when you’ve sold the film rights to your best-selling YA trilogy by age 26? Write the prequel, of course. Last summer, this Barrington native published a collection of short stories set before Divergent.
Chicago’s original culinary innovator (R.J. Grunts in 1971) continues to move and shake the foodie scene. In the past eight months alone, Lettuce Entertain You’s paternal leader opened RPM Steak and Intro—both blockbusters. This year, Melman receives the James Beard Foundation’s lifetime achievement award. That’s all well and good, but such honors are usually meant … Read more
This winter, Ricketts showed he was willing to make bold moves, dumping manager Rick Renteria for proven skipper Joe Maddon and greenlighting a $155 million, six-year deal to land pitcher Jon Lester, the richest contract in the history of Chicago sports. But he’ll need patience when it comes to his perpetually delayed $375 million Wrigley … Read more
Long a trusted adviser to names such as Buffett, Wrigley, and Pritzker, the ex–Goldman banker has gained clout by stepping into the role of principal investor, raising two funds worth $8 billion total.
He runs the family’s investment firm; Dad is a billionaire industrialist; and he sits on some mighty powerful boards.
He runs the City Council’s finance committee like a personal fiefdom. But the council is as much of a mayoral rubber stamp as ever.
Illinois's top lawyer falls six spots after passing up a run for governor (a race many thought she’d win). She is mum about taking on the Republican senator Mark Kirk next year. Capitol Hill would move her beyond state government, where her father’s presence seems to be stymieing her rise.
