Nicholas Pritzker II

Pritzker, who has an estimated worth of $2.8 billion, began working in the real estate sector with his father, Jack Pritzker, before joining Hyatt Hotels Corporation. From 1980 to 2007, the billionaire investor served as a director of the Hyatt Hotel Corporation, a hotel chain company founded by his father. Pritzker was born in Chicago and holds degrees from Lake Forest College and the University of Chicago. He founded the Clean Energy Trust in 2010, which invests primarily in clean energy projects. 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.