Penny Pritzker's Biography

Penny Pritzker is a renowned American businesswoman, entrepreneur, and public servant best known for serving as the 38th U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. As a prominent member of the Pritzker family, Penny played a pivotal role in expanding the family’s Hyatt Hotels empire and spearheading ventures through her investment firm, PSP Partners. With degrees from Harvard College and Stanford’s JD/MBA program, her educational background underscores her expertise in business and law. Pritzker's dynamic career spans real estate, private equity, and education reform, earning her recognition on Forbes’ list of the most powerful women. She is married to Dr. Bryan Traubert and is the mother of two. Beyond her business ventures, Penny is deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting causes in education and economic development. Despite facing controversy over the collapse of Superior Bank, Pritzker has continued to shape the business and policy landscape through her leadership and advocacy. With an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion in 2024, she remains an influential figure in American business and civic life.