50. Tracy Letts 52. Richard M. Daley 51 Terry Mazany Age: 56 Occupation: CEO, Chicago Community Trust Next Back This polyglot manages the second-largest foundation in Illinois ($1.6 billion in assets). He’s on this list because he wields sizable influence in disparate circles, from schools (he was interim CEO of CPS) to the Chicago Fed. … Read more
78. Matt Hynes 80. Joseph Ferguson 79 Barbara Byrd-Bennett Age: 62 Occupation: CEO, Chicago Public Schools Next Back This 2012 hire didn’t make any critical mistakes during last fall’s teachers’ strike. Now she is trying to use the management skills she honed in Cleveland and Detroit to jump-start CPS. Whether she will exercise real authority … Read more
67. John Calamos Sr. 69. Michael Ferro Jr. 68 Richard Driehaus Age: 70 Occupation: Chairman, Driehaus Capital Management Next Back His genius for investments propels a firm that handles $8.4 billion in assets. His passion for fine art fuels a River North museum. And last February, his loyalty to DePaul (his alma mater) landed its … Read more
2. Michael Madigan 4. Miles White 3 J.B. Pritzker Age: 48 Occupation: Managing partner, Pritzker Group Next Back Everything about this Hyatt Hotels heir is big. His private equity firm (run with his L.A.-based brother, Tony). His outsize venture capital bets (including $50 million invested in a data center fi rm last year). His generosity … Read more
4. Miles White 6. Penny Pritzker 5 Jerry Reinsdorf Age: 77 Occupation: Chairman, Chicago Bulls and White Sox; co-owner, United Center Next Back His nickname says it all. One of the savviest decision makers in sports, the Chairman announced in November that the Bulls will build a 55,000-square-foot practice complex next to the United Center—if, … Read more
60. Linda Johnson Rice 62. Greg Goldner 61 Susan Crown Age: 54 Occupation: Chairman, Susan Crown Exchange Next Back The daughter of Lester (No. 12) and sister of James (No. 44) is a philanthropist who in May launched a foundation supporting digital education. A 2008 Obama bundler, she raised eyebrows in 2012 when she hauled … Read more
26. Grant Achatz 28. Robert Zimmer 27 John Canning Jr. Age: 68 Occupation: Chairman, Madison Dearborn Partners Next Back This hugely respected dealmaker is still a major power at the private equity firm he cofounded back in 1992—Chicago’s biggest, with some $12 billion under management (2012 was a banner year: The firm delivered investors a … Read more
94. James Bell 96. John Rowe 95 Joanne Smith Age: 51 Occupation: CEO, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Next Back The head of the nation’s best rehab hospital faces a big battle in 2013: convincing everyone that her planned $450 million facility in Streeterville is necessary. Photograph: COURTESY OF THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
57. Douglas Druick 59. Michael Kasper 58 Frederick Waddell Age: 59 Occupation: Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Next Back This golf lover is one of the area’s best-paid corporate honchos (2012 total comp: $17.7 million) and no wonder: “Rick” is steering the bank with the deepest roots in Chicago to continued expansion overseas. Photograph: JOEL … Read more
29. Steve Koch 31. David Spielfogel 30 Garry McCarthy Age: 53 Occupation: Superintendent, Chicago Police Department Next Back McCarthy was heralded for his calm handling of last May’s NATO summit. And, as he is constantly reminding everyone, Chicago’s overall crime rate is down. But homicides are up—and that puts the superintendent on the hot seat. … Read more
