Pritzker was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Marian "Cindy" (née Friend) and Jay Pritzker. His father diversified the Chicago-based family business, the Marmon Group - along with his brothers Robert Pritzker and Donald Pritzker - building it into a portfolio of over 60 diversified industrial corporations.
They also created the Hyatt Hotel chain in 1957 and owned Braniff Airlines from 1983–1988. Pritzker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Menlo College. In 1972, Pritzker started his career working in the family business, Hyatt Hotels, where he in 1984, he rose to become Managing Director and Divisional Vice President.
In 1996, he formed Mandara Spa, a chain of 72 resort spas, which he hoped to pair up with Hyatt Hotels, but ended up being located entirely in competitors to Hyatt.
In 2000, 40% of the company was sold to Shiseido Company In 2001, the remaining 60% was sold to Steiner Leisure Limited, a Nasdaq (STNR) listed company.
In 2010, he sold his ownership interest in Hyatt back to his family and used the funds, via Geolo Capital, to purchase a majority interest in the Joie de Vivre boutique hotel chain. In October 2011, he merged the 30 hotel Joie de Vivre chain with the Pomeranc family"s 12 hotel Thompson Hotel Group to form Commune Hotels & Resorts.
He co-chairs Commune Hotels with Thomson Hotels" owner Jason Pomeranc.
In 2012, Commune operated 46 hotels and had $450 million in revenues. Pritzker is married to Lisa Stone and they have three children. Pritzker donated $15 million to the University of California at San Francisco for new pediatric emergency room facilities at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children"s Hospital.
The Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund funds programs focused on children"s health and education, civic activities, and Jewish affairs
He is a member of the Pritzker family. In 1988, he left Hyatt to pursue his own entrepreneurial activities including become a founding member of Ticketmaster.
