Neil Bluhm
Neil G. Bluhm | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 85–86) Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois (BA) Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Commercial real estate, casinos |
| Spouse | Barbara Bluhm-Kaul (divorced) |
| Children | 3 |
Neil Gary Bluhm (born 1938) is an American billionaire real estate and casino magnate. He is a partner of Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, which owns several casinos.[2][3][4]
Early life
Bluhm was born to a Jewish family in 1938 in Chicago.[1][5] His father left the family when he was 13, and his mother worked as a bookkeeper.[2] He grew up in a cramped apartment near his immigrant grandparents. He attended a high school on Chicago's northwest side.[6]
He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1959, studying accounting, and in 1962, he received a juris doctor degree from Northwestern University.[1][2] In 2009, he received Northwestern’s Alumni Medal, the highest honor an alumnus can receive from the university.[7]
Career
He started his career as a lawyer and eventually a partner in the Chicago law firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt. In 1969, he co-founded JMB Realty[2] with Judd Malkin, his high school friend and college roommate.[8][6]
In 1994, he co-founded Walton Street Capital, a private equity firm. Soon thereafter, with Greg Carlin, he co-founded Rush Street Gaming.[8]
Bluhm owns real estate in Chicago and elsewhere, including Chicago's 900 North Michigan and Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton Hotels.[citation needed] He is a minority owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.[9][10]
Personal life
He is divorced from Barbara Bluhm-Kaul. They have 3 children: Andy Bluhm, who runs hedge fund Delaware Street Capital;[2] Leslie Bluhm, who co-founded Chicago Cares,[2] and Meredith Bluhm-Wolf, a philanthropist.[2]
He lives in Chicago.[1] In December 2018, he purchased an apartment near Miami for $20 million.[11]
An art patron, he sits on the board of trustees of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Whitney Museum of American Art.[1] He has an art collection worth $300 million.[1] He sits on the board of trustees of Northwestern University.[12]
Political contributions
Bluhm is a Democrat. He hosted President Barack Obama's 49th birthday party, where admission cost a $30,000 donation to the Democratic National Committee.[1][2] He has contributed to the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin, Melissa Bean, Rahm Emanuel, Lisa Madigan, Rod Blagojevich, Lou Lang, and Michael Madigan.[2] In 2017, Bluhm was criticized after calling in a request to Rahm Emanuel after making a $300,000 contribution.[13]
Philanthropy
In 2005, he funded the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute with a $10 million gift.[14]
In 2013, he made a $25 million gift to Northwestern University, including $15 million earmarked for the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.[15]
In 2015, he made a $1 million donation to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.[16]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Neil Bluhm". Forbes. Retrieved Jan 1, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kukec, Anna Marie (July 25, 2011). "Rivers Casino dealmaker eyes the next big project". The Daily Herald.
- ^ Harris, Melissa (July 17, 2011). "Knowing when to hold them". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Harris, Melissa (March 16, 2015). "Son of billionaire casino magnate Neil Bluhm invests in competitor". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Cutler, Irving (1996). The Jews of Chicago: From Shtetl to Suburb. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252021855.
- ^ a b Phillips, Stephen (June 13, 1987). "A REALTY CONCERN WITH A BIG APPETITE". The New York Times.
- ^ "Motion to Lead: The Campaign for Northwestern Pritzker School of Law". Northwestern University.
- ^ a b "Neil Bluhm". Rush Street Gaming.
- ^ "Media Guide" (PDF). Chicago Bulls. 2016. p. 7.
- ^ "Neil Bluhm". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
He [Bluhm] owns a minority stake in the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.
- ^ RODKIN, DENNIS (December 4, 2018). "Neil Bluhm buys $20 million Florida condo". Crain Communications.
- ^ "Life Trustees: Administration and Planning". Northwestern University.
- ^ Neubauer, Chuck; Bergo, Sandy (January 9, 2017). "Rahm Emails Show Casino Chief Sought Help After Family Contributed To Mayor". Better Government Association.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (February 27, 2015). "Billionaire developer Bluhm's favorite project". Crain Communications.
- ^ Lazare, Lewis (December 17, 2013). "NU School of Law receives its largest gift ever". American City Business Journals.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (September 2, 2015). "Neil Bluhm, Holly Hunt each donate $1 million to School of Art Institute". Crain Communications.