John Pritzker

John Pritzker began his career at Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 1972 and in 1984 became Managing Director and Divisional Vice President of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. John was a founding board member of TicketMaster, Inc. and Chemdex/Ventro Corporation. Additionally, he has served as Chairman and CEO of a number of businesses in the hospitality industry, including Red Sail Sports, Mandara Spa, LLC and The Odyssey Club. Currently, John serves as Chairman of the Board of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, is a member of the boards of The UCSF Foundation, The UCSF Executive Board and The Bernard Osher Foundation, and serves as the immediate past President of the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation. Grandchild of A.N. Pritzker (d. 1986), who, with sons Jay (d. 1999) and Robert, created industrial conglomerate Marmon (sales: $7 billion) and hotel chain Hyatt (735 hotels worldwide). Plan to pass control of empire to Jay's son Tom, cousin Nick and niece Penny collapsed in 2001; family agreed to split empire 11 ways, drawing lawsuit by Robert's 2 youngest children, Matthew and Liesel. Settled for $1 billion. Dynastic carve-up in full swing. Sold undisclosed stake in Hyatt to the Walton family's private equity firm, Madrone Capital, and Goldman Sachs for $1 billion last August. Five months later sold 60% of Marmon to Berkshire Hathaway for $4.5 billion; will sell remainder by 2014.