Sept. 29--If you've noticed fewer billionaires shopping for caviar at your local supermarket, you're not mistaken -- Illinois has three fewer representatives among the nation's 400 wealthiest residents than it did last year, according to Forbes magazine.
While the state's richest man, Citadel hedge fund founder Ken Griffin, upped his net worth from $5.5 billion to $7 billion to become the 69th richest American, Illinois' third and fourth richest residents last year, brothers J. Christopher Reyes and Jude Reyes, both moved to Florida.
And Groupon founder Eric Lefkofsky fell off the list entirely. His estimated fortune of $1.6 billion last year fell below the $1.7 billion needed to make the list this year, leaving Illinois with just 14 members of the elite top 400 club.
Former Tribune owner and real estate mogul Sam Zell remains the state's second-richest resident. He increased his wealth by $100 million last year, according to Forbes -- one of five Illinois billionaires to see their net worth grow.
Another real estate magnate, casino owner Neil Bluhm, moves up to become the state's third-richest resident after making a cool $700 million last year to take his total net worth to $3.5 billion, Forbes says.
Beanie Baby inventor Ty Warner's wealth is unaffected by a felony conviction for tax evasion: the $53.5 million fine he paid wasn't enough to put a dent in his $2.3 billion fortune, according to Forbes.
But it was a forgettable financial year for one of Chicago's best-known families. While private equity and venture capital firm boss Jay Robert Pritzker saw no change in his $3.4 billion fortune, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker lost $100 million to fall to $2.4 billion. Hyatt Chairman Thomas Pritzker and movie investor Jean Pritzker lost $200 million each to fall to $3 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, and Jennifer Pritzker -- believed to be the world's only transgender billionaire -- lost $50 million to fall to $1.75 billion and 389th place on the list.
Chicago's chicken king, meat processing giant Joseph Grendys, also had a bad year, losing a quarter of his net worth to fall to $1.8 billion.
With an estimated fortune of $76 billion, Microsoft founder Bill Gates remains at the top of the chart despite losing $5 billion over the last year. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg cracked the national top 10 for the first time, with a net worth of $40.3 billion.
Forbes says 273 members of the list are self-made billionaires, 61 inherited their wealth and 66 inherited at least a portion but are still increasing it.
Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, age 25, is the youngest billionaire on the list.
kjanssen@tribpub.com
