99 Matt Matros Age: 34 Occupation: Founder and CEO, Protein Bar Last year, Matros became the Brendan Sodikoff of quinoa: The protein-peddling, healthy-fast-food entrepreneur opened four new Chicagoland locations, a second in Washington D.C., and bagged new investment from a private equity firm that will underwrite three outposts in Colorado. Photo: Courtesy Of Protein Bar
98 Tavi Gevinson Age: 17 Occupation: Founder and editor in chief, Rookie Gevinson’s power goes far beyond Rookie, the successful pop culture website for teenagers that she founded in 2011. Last year, the Oak Park and River Forest High School senior acted in a critically acclaimed movie (Enough Said) and forcefully extended her clout as an … Read more
100 Theo Epstein Age: 40 Occupation: President of baseball operations, Chicago Cubs The Cubs were horrible in 2013 (66 wins, 96 losses), and Epstein’s most significant move—hiring a manager to develop a team stocked with raw talent—was widely perceived as a bust. The new manager, Rick Renteria, missed the introductory news conference due to a bad … Read more
97 Gerould Kern Age: 64 Occupation: Senior vice president and editor, Chicago Tribune The year was not kind to newspapers. But Kern, who directs more journalists than anyone else in town (400), held the line on credibility for the city’s paper of record (owned by Tribune Co., Chicago’s parent). Though Tribune plans to spin off its … Read more
96 Richard Posner Age: 75 Occupation: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit This federal judge is the most cited legal scholar of the 20th century, having published some 2,500 articles and 30 books, including 2013’s Reflections on Judging. Mind you, he squeezes this in when not writing for The New Republic, Slate, or his blog … Read more
8 Sam Zell Age: 72 Occupation: Chairman, Equity Group Investments Zell rises on the list this year partly because others have fallen. But that’s how the legendary Grave Dancer plays the game. The controversial billionaire kept building his empire in 2013 by engineering a complex $16 billion real-estate deal that was stunning in size, backing a … Read more
89 Howard Tullman Age: 68 Occupation: Venture capitalist A power player and serial entrepreneur, Tullman was tapped last year to run the high-profile tech startup incubator 1871. Its alumni have created more than 300 jobs and $10 million in revenue. Jobs, jobs, jobs has been the mayor’s mantra—and Tullman is well positioned to deliver. Photo: Jose … Read more
87 Christopher Crane Age: 55 Occupation: CEO, Exelon One of the nation’s largest energy providers, $23.5 billion Exelon has weathered poor analyst predictions and is currently battling the IRS over capital gains taxes. But Crane gets credit for keeping the lights on at Exelon’s nuclear facilities in a period of prolonged and steep competition from falling … Read more
12 Jeff Smisek Age: 59 Occupation: Chairman and CEO, United Continental Holdings Everyone loves to gripe about the airline industry (been delayed at O’Hare lately?). But this full-throttle CEO moved up the list (from No. 21 last year) after helping his massive company shake its merger hangover and handily beat the Street (UAL stock was up … Read more
11 Jerry Reinsdorf Age: 78 Occupation: Chairman, Chicago Bulls and White Sox It only looked like a horrible year for the Chairman. Sure, Reinsdorf saw the second—second!—season-ending injury to one of his most important assets, Derrick Rose, and no doubt winced as fans spurned his beloved White Sox during a wretched season. But this old-timer’s portfolio … Read more
