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Lester and Renée Crown

LESTER AND RENÉE CROWN
WHY: They’re worth more than $4 billion, for starters.

 

 

Marty Nesbitt and Anita Blanchard

MARTY NESBITT AND ANITA BLANCHARD
WHY: The Obamas are their BFFs.

 

 

Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra

BILL KURTIS AND DONNA LaPIETRA
WHY: He’s a legendary broadcaster; she’s the new Millennium Park honcho.

 

 

Michele and Jesse Ruiz

MICHELE AND JESSE RUIZ
WHY: These lawyers scored high-profile city and federal appointments.

 

 

Gianna Rolandi and Sir Andrew Davis

GIANNA ROLANDI AND SIR ANDREW DAVIS
WHY: Lyric Opera + Ryan Opera Center = total opera dominance.

 

 

Photography: (Crown) Shauna Bittle/Chicago Tribune; (Blanchard, Nesbitt) Shaun Mader/Sipa Via AP Images; (Kurtis, LaPietra) Dianne Brogan/Chicago Tribune; (Davis, Rolandi) Cheri Eisenberg/Lyric Opera Of Chicago