Harry was the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Annie P. (née Cohn) and Nicholas J. Pritzker. His father left Kiev for Chicago in 1881 and worked first as a pharmacist and then a lawyer His father wrote a small book that has been passed down from Pritzker to Pritzker.
The theme of the book is "Your only immortality is the impact you have on your successors."
Harry joined his father"s law firm, Pritzker & Pritzker, along with his brothers, Abram and Jack.
Harry specialized in criminal law, Abram (called Abe and later A North) specialized in business law, and Jack in real estate law. Harry continued to run the law firm Pritzker & Pritzker which eventually became an in-house firm catering solely to the needs of the Pritzker family and its business. The Pritzker brothers were very successful and amassed a considerable fortune.
Using Pritzker & Pritzker, they shielded their earnings from taxes through a series of trusts and tax code loopholes enabling them to distribute their earnings as they chose.
Marmon was diversified to include manufacturing concerns ranging from lumber to railroad box cars and travel industry staples. lieutenant composed half of the family"s wealth.
On December 25, 2007, it was announced that Warren Buffett, through Berkshire Hathaway, would purchase 60% of the Marmon Group from the Pritzkers for $4.5 Billion.
