« 39. Ted Phillips41. Ken Griffin » AGE: 54 OCCUPATION: Artistic director, Steppenwolf Theatre More than any other theatre bigwig in Chicago, this savvy tastemaker has the creative power to introduce gutsy American plays—and their authors—to audiences. Case in point: Tracy Letts’s August: Osage County, which went from Steppenwolf to Broadway to the Tony Awards … Read more
« 52. Michael Sacks54. Bill Hybels » AGE: 47 OCCUPATION: Founder and principal, Studio Gang Architects Her forceful ideas are bringing fresh accolades to Chicago’s skyline (Aqua) and won her a MacArthur “genius” grant last fall. True, Gang lost her bid to redo Navy Pier last November, but she’s still the star designer in a … Read more
« 64. Deborah DeHaas66. Joan Harris » AGE: 66 OCCUPATION: Chairman, Winston & Strawn The former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, who joined the politically connected law firm Winston & Strawn in 1985, is the go-to litigator for white-collar defendants nationwide. MORE ON WEBB: How to Win an Argument RELATED: Most Powerful … Read more
« 65. Dan Webb67. Richard Posner » AGE: 80 OCCUPATION: Philanthropist Last December, President Obama announced his intent to appoint Harris, the patron saint of performing arts in Chicago and widow of the late industrialist Irving Harris, to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, which controls the institution’s $125 million in investments. RELATED: Most … Read more
« 3. Jim Skinner5. Rocky Wirtz » AGE: 69 OCCUPATION: Speaker, Illinois House He doesn’t say much. But when the Velvet Hammer—a.k.a. the Real Governor of Illinois—speaks, his word is final. House speaker for 27 of the past 29 years and chairman of the state’s Democratic Party, his latest move is a bold congressional remapping … Read more
« 66. Joan Harris68. Martin Cabrera Jr. » AGE: 73 OCCUPATION: Judge, United States Court of Appeals Averaging a book a year for the past 40 years while also teaching at the University of Chicago and holding down his day job with distinction, Posner ranks as one of the nation’s top thinkers. According to Yale … Read more
« 67. Richard Posner69. Richard Sandor » AGE: 41 OCCUPATION: Founder and CEO, Cabrera Capital Markets This prominent deal broker heads one of the largest Hispanic-owned financial services firms in the United States and is considered the man to call to reach influential Latinos nationwide. In January, Emanuel appointed Cabrera to head the city’s influential … Read more
« 68. Martin Cabrera Jr.70. James Reynolds Jr. » AGE: 70 OCCUPATION: Founder and CEO, Environmental Financial Products Dreaming up ideas that transform industries is Sandor’s stock-in-trade. The father of financial futures, he invented a carbon-trading system aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions and sold it for nearly $600 million in 2010. Now he’s working … Read more
« 6. David Axelrod8. Penny Pritzker » AGE: 23 OCCUPATION: Point guard, Chicago Bulls First comes the physical power: the raw strength that fires somewhere deep inside and explodes in a backboard-rattling thunderslam. Next comes the ability to wow: the gaping jaws at the United Center, the disbelieving eyes riveted to TV screens across the … Read more
« 70. James Reynolds Jr.72. Deborah Rutter » AGE: 35 OCCUPATION: Founder, Interfaith Youth Core Since 2002, this Muslim-Indian Chicagoan has shown through op-eds, a book, and a training institute that the way to bridge faiths is to acknowledge differences and get together anyway. Last March, the White House partnered with Patel to show 500 … Read more
