Jennifer Pritzker | |
---|---|
![]() Pritzker in 2016 | |
Born | James Nicholas Pritzker August 13, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Education | Loyola University Chicago (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Investor, philanthropist |
Known for | First transgender billionaire, founder of Tawani Foundation and Pritzker Military Library |
Political party | Republican (formerly)[1] |
Spouses | Ayelet ben Mordechai
(divorced)Lisa I. Goren (divorced)Erin E. Solaro (m. 2020) |
Children | 3 |
Parent | Robert Pritzker (father) |
Awards | Colonel (honorary) (IL) |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | |
Years of service | |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Awards |
Jennifer Natalya Pritzker (born James Nicholas Pritzker; August 13, 1950) is an American investor, philanthropist, and member of the Pritzker family. Pritzker retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) in 2001, and was later made an honorary Illinois colonel. Founder of the Tawani Foundation in 1995, Tawani Enterprises in 1996, and the Pritzker Military Library in 2003, Pritzker has been involved with civic applications of inherited and accrued wealth, including significant donations to broaden understanding and support for "citizen soldiers."
In August 2013, Pritzker released a statement to employees at Tawani Enterprises and the Pritzker Military Library that subsequently received wide media coverage, indicating the change from "J. N." to "Jennifer Natalya" to reflect her status as a transgender woman, making her the first and only openly transgender billionaire.
She is the cousin of current Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker and former US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.[2]