From CEOs to cultural icons, Chicago has always been an epicenter for trailblazers. Here, the top 50 local luminaries who call the Windy City home.
MIKE GOLDEN AND THAD WONG
CO-FOUNDERS, @properties
GRANT ACHATZ
CO-OWNER, THE ALINEA GROUP
CURT BAILEY
PRESIDENT, RELATED MIDWEST
RICK BAYLESS
LESLIE BLUHM
CO-FOUNDER, CHICAGO CARES
MARTIN CABRERA JR.
FOUNDER AND CEO, CABRERA CAPITAL MARKETS
NICK CAVE
CHANCE THE RAPPER
RAPPER, SINGER AND RECORD PRODUCER
JAHMAL COLE
FOUNDER AND CEO, MY BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY
CARRIE COON
GLENN DAVIS
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY
CATHERINE DE ORIO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOUNDATION FOR CULINARY ARTS
ROHINI DEY
OWNER/FOUNDER, VERMILION; FOUNDER, LET’S TALK WOMXN
MATT EBERFLUS
HEAD COACH, CHICAGO BEARS
AUDREY FRANCIS
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY
STEPHANIE IZARD
JEANNE GANG
FOUNDER, STUDIO GANG
THEASTER GATES
IKRAM GOLDMAN
OWNER, IKRAM
KEN GRIFFIN
FOUNDER AND CEO, CITADEL
MADELEINE GRYNSZTEJN
DIRECTOR, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO
BUDDY GUY
MELLODY HOBSON
CO-CEO AND PRESIDENT, ARIEL INVESTMENTS
TONY KARMAN
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR, EXPO CHICAGO
AZEEZA KHAN
FOUNDER, AZEEZA
NICK KOKONAS
CO-OWNER, THE ALINEA GROUP
ERIC LEFKOVSKY
FOUNDER AND CEO, TEMPUS
TRACY LETTS
JOSEPHINE LEE
PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR
LORI LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR, CITY OF CHICAGO
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL
DAVID MORTON
OWNER, DMK RESTAURANTS
PAUL OCTAVIOUS
TONI PRECKWINKLE
PRESIDENT, COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JB PRITZKER
GOVERNOR, STATE OF ILLINOIS
LYNN OSMOND
PRESIDENT AND CEO, CHOOSE CHICAGO
MARIA PINTO
FOUNDER/DESIGNER, M2057
JERRY REINSDORF
OWNER, CHICAGO BULLS AND CHICAGO WHITE SOX
LAURA RICKETTS
CO-OWNER, CHICAGO CUBS
R.J. MELMAN
PRESIDENT, LETTUCE ENTERTAIN YOU ENTERPRISES
MICHAEL SACKS
BOARD CHAIRMAN AND CEO, GROSVENOR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
DON THOMPSON
FOUNDER AND CEO, CLEVELAND AVENUE
JEFF TWEEDY
LUKAS WALTON
FOUNDER AND CEO, BUILDERS VISION
EDWARD J. WEHMER
FOUNDER AND CEO, WINTRUST
ASHLEY WHEATER MBE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE JOFFREY BALLET
ERICK WILIAMS
OWNER AND EXECUTIVE CHEF, VIRTUE RESTAURANT/MUSTARD SEED KITCHEN
ROCKY WIRTZ
CHAIRMAN, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS; PRESIDENT, WIRTZ CORPORATION
JAMILA WOODS
SINGER, SONGWRITER AND POET
Photography by: FROM TOP: PHOTO COURTESY @PROPERTIES CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE; PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE IZARD, INC.; PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR; PHOTO BY KATRINA WITT KAMP;
