Neil Bluhm
| Neil Bluhm | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 76–77) |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
| Alma mater |
B.A. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign J.D. Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | real estate and casinos |
| Net worth |
 US$ 2.5 billion (Sept 2013)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Bluhm-Kaul (divorced) |
| Children |
Andy Bluhm Leslie Bluhm Meredith Bluhm-Wolf |
Neil Bluhm is an American real estate and casino magnate.[2]
Early life and education
Neil Bluhm was born to a Jewish family in 1938.[2][3] His father left home when he was 13, and his mother worked as a bookkeeper.[4] He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and received a law degree from Northwestern University.[2][4][5][6][7]
Career
He started his career as a lawyer and eventually a partner in the Chicago law firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt.[6] In 1969, he co-founded JMB Realty[4][5][6][7][8] with Judd Malkin. He serves as a Managing Partner of Walton Street Capital and Lamb Partners.[4][5][6][7] He is also President of the ALP Liquidating Trust and the Northbrook Corporation, and Chairman of the Board of HSP Gaming and the Falls Management Company.[5][8] He owns the Holdings Acquisitions Co..[8] He is a former Co-Chairman of the Board of Urban Shopping Centers.[5] He is Chairman of the Board of Midwest Gaming & Entertainment.[4] He owns casinos in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Des Plaines, Illinois, and Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Canada.[4][7][8][9]
Philanthropy
He hosted President Barack Obama's 49th birthday party, where admission was a $30,000 donation to the Democratic National Committee.[2][4] He has made further donations to Democratic candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, Melissa Bean, Rahm Emanuel, Lisa Madigan, Rod Blagojevich, Lou Lang, and Michael Madigan.[4] An art patron, he sits on the Board of Trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Whitney Museum of American Art.[2] He also has an art collection worth $100 million.[2] He sits on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University.[7][10]
Personal life
He is divorced from Barbara Bluhm-Kaul[11] and has three children:[2]
- Andy Bluhm, who runs his own hedge fund, Delaware Street Capital;[12]
- Leslie Bluhm, who co-founded Chicago Cares;[12]
- Meredith Bluhm-Wolf, a philanthropist.[12]
He lives in Chicago.[2] In 2011, Barack Obama appointed his former wife a member of the nation's Cultural Property Advisory Committee.[11]
References
- ↑ Forbes - The World's Billionaires: Neil Bluhm September 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Forbes profile
- ↑ "The Jews of Chicago: From Shtetl to Suburb" By Irving Cutler published 1996
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Anna Marie Kukec, 'Rivers Casino dealmaker eyes the next big project', in The Daily Herald, 7/25/2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 BusinessWeek profile
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Walton St Capital biography
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Milken Institute biography
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Rivers Casino biography
- ↑ Melissa Harris, 'Knowing when to hold them', in The Chicago Tribune, July 17, 2011
- ↑ Northwestern University Board of Trustees
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chicago Sun-Times: "Obama taps Chicagoan Barbara Bluhm-Kaul to cultural property panel" By Lynn Sweet August 30, 2011
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Daily Herald: "Rivers Casino dealmaker eyes the next big project" By Anna Marie Kukec July 25, 2011