Jay Pritzker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Pritzker
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|---|---|
| Born |
Jay Arthur Pritzker
August 26, 1922 |
| Died | January 23, 1999 (aged 76) |
| Education | University of Chicago Northwestern University (BS, JD) |
| Known for | Co-founder of Hyatt Corporation |
| Spouse(s) | Cindy Friend |
| Children | 5, including Thomas, John, Daniel, Gigi |
| Parent(s) | Abram Nicholas Pritzker (father) |
| Relatives | See Pritzker family |
Jay Arthur Pritzker (born August 26, 1922 – died January 23, 1999) was an American businessman. He was known for starting and growing many different companies. He was also a member of the famous Pritzker family.
Early Life and Education
Jay Pritzker was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family came from Ukraine in 1881. His parents were Fanny Doppelt and Abram Nicholas Pritzker. He had two brothers, Donald and Robert Pritzker.
Jay was very smart and started college at the University of Chicago when he was only 14 years old. He earned a science degree from Northwestern University in 1941. Later, he got a law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1947. During World War II, Pritzker served in the Navy as a pilot.
Building Businesses
Jay Pritzker helped his family's business grow a lot. It started as a law firm and some investments. Jay, along with his brother Robert, turned it into a large group of companies called the Marmon Group. This group owned about 60 different industrial businesses.
In 1957, Jay and his brother Donald Pritzker started the Hyatt Hotel chain. This became a very well-known hotel brand around the world. He also owned Braniff Airlines for a few years, from 1983 to 1988.
Jay Pritzker was also interested in other types of businesses. In 1982, he bought Ticketmaster, a company that sells tickets for events. He made it much bigger before selling most of it in 1993.
Awards and Legacy
Jay Pritzker created the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1979. This award is like the Nobel Prize for architects. It honors architects who have made important contributions to buildings and design.
He received several awards for his work. In 1979, he got the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 1996, he and his wife, Cindy, received the Honor Award from the National Building Museum.
After his death, a famous outdoor music venue in Chicago was named after him. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion was designed by architect Frank Gehry and opened in 2004 as part of Millennium Park.
Family Life
Jay Pritzker was married to Marian "Cindy" Friend for 51 years. They had five children together:
- Thomas Pritzker (born 1950) has been in charge of the Hyatt Foundation and the Marmon Holdings company.
- John Pritzker (born 1953) runs his own company that invests in hotels and entertainment.
- Daniel Pritzker (born 1959) is a musician and filmmaker. He supports schools and charities. He also owns a famous guitar that belonged to musician Jerry Garcia.
- Jean "Gigi" Pritzker (born 1962) is a successful film and play producer.
See also
- Pritzker family
In Spanish: Jay A. Pritzker para niños
