« 82. Julia Stasch84. John Bryan » AGE: 75 OCCUPATION: Senior chairman, Winston & Strawn Illinois’s longest-serving governor may not hold the sway he once did. But he is still Big Jim Thompson, with an iconic Loop building that bears his name, and he wields clout at what is arguably the most influential law firm … Read more
« 35. John Rogers37. Tom Pritzker » AGE: 52 OCCUPATION: State’s attorney, Cook County It’s hard to understate the authority to choose who is and isn’t prosecuted—and to significantly influence the wrongful conviction process. But Alvarez’s sway doesn’t stop there. Last fall, she granted power to the Town of Cicero to pursue civil litigation against … Read more
« 83. Jim Thompson85. Joanne C. Smith » AGE: 75 OCCUPATION: Chairman, NATO/G8 host committee Without this former Sara Lee CEO, who corralled more than $220 million in private contributions, Millennium Park wouldn’t exist. His prowess as a fundraiser is why Mayor Emanuel recruited him to lasso $65 million for the May summits. RELATED: Most … Read more
« 84. John Bryan86. Andrew Alexander » AGE: 50 OCCUPATION: President and CEO, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago At the helm of the country’s top rehab hospital since 2006, Smith is overseeing plans for a new Streeterville facility—slated to open in 2016 at a projected cost of $450 million—that will increase the institute’s capacity and boost … Read more
« 32. Larry Goodman34. Rick Bayless » AGE: 67 OCCUPATION: United States senator This amiable successor to Paul Simon is using his clout as majority whip (the Senate’s number two job) to become Illinois’s sugar daddy, securing billions for projects, pork or otherwise. Recently, he helped bring in $1.5 billion for a high-speed rail line … Read more
« 85. Joanne C. Smith87. Michelle Boone » AGE: 67 OCCUPATION: Co-owner and CEO, The Second City How do you turn funny into a $35 million empire? Just watch Alexander shuttle between Hollywood, where he hatches film and TV projects, and Chicago, where he keeps a firm grip on TSC’s local comedy productions and 12 … Read more
« 86. Andrew Alexander88. Michael Pfleger » AGE: 50 OCCUPATION: Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, City of Chicago Last June, the mayor crowned her Chicago’s culture czar (a.k.a. the new Lois Weisberg). But with great power comes great responsibility. Will the former Joyce Foundation programming officer succeed in rebooting the city’s Frankendepartment … Read more
« 87. Michelle Boone89. Scott Harris » AGE: 62 OCCUPATION: Pastor, St. Sabina Catholic Church Grabbing headlines for his antiviolence rallies and outreach to prostitutes, the controversial Catholic priest and passionate social justice activist often clashes with Cardinal George (No. 18). His South Side parishioners—and the media—love him for it. MORE ON PFLEGER: Father Courage: … Read more
« 88. Michael Pfleger90. Bruce Rauner » AGE: 50 OCCUPATION: Restaurateur Chicago has spoken: It loves Scott Harris. His Francesca restaurant chain has 20 area locations and counting, he recently unveiled the enormous hits Davanti Enoteca and The Purple Pig, and his kingdom—soon to include a pizzeria, a taqueria, and a wine bar—is expanding to … Read more
« 8. Penny Pritzker10. Eric Lefkofsky » AGE: 37 OCCUPATION: Chef and restaurateur Chicago’s restaurant scene may once have lagged behind the coasts—but not since Achatz vaporized and aromatized his way to the pinnacle of the foodie-verse. You better believe that each time he launches the next Next menu (homage to El Bulli in progress), … Read more
