Mary Kathryn Muenster's biography: Who is JB Pritzker’s wife?
Mary Kathryn Muenster is an American civic leader and philanthropist. She is best known as the wife of JB Pritzker. Pritzker is the 43rd governor of Illinois and a billionaire American investor and philanthropist. Mary has always been a staunch supporter of Pritzker's endeavours.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Mary Kathryn is the First Lady of Illinois, married to Governor J.B. Pritzker.
- Her focus is on reproductive healthcare and restorative justice.
- She supports LGBTQ+ initiatives.
- She has a background in arts and historic preservation.
- Mary co-chaired the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Profile summary
Real name | Mary Kathryn Muenster |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 25 May 1967 |
Age | 58 years (as of 2025) |
Zodiac sign | Gemini |
Place of birth | South Dakota, USA |
Current residence | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Religion | Judaism |
Height in feet | 5'8" |
Height in centimetres | 173 |
Weight in kilograms | 55 |
Weight in lbs | 121 |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Green |
Father | Theodore Muenster Jr. |
Mother | Karen Muenster |
Sexuality | Straight |
Marital status | Married |
Spouse | Jay Robert Pritzker |
Children | 2 |
University | University of Nebraska Art Institute of Chicago |
Mary Kathryn Muenster’s biography
JB Pritzker’s wife is from South Dakota, USA. She was born to Theodore and Karen Muenster. Her father was the Chief of Staff to South Dakota Governor Richard Kneip. Her mother was a state senator in South Dakota from 1987 to 1993.
Mary has an older brother named Tom and a younger brother named Ted. She had been very close to her grandmother since childhood. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, she described her as follows:
She was the most amazing person who taught me how to knit and farm and the importance of giving. I fed the pigs every morning. My grandparents weren’t well off. But it was the best time. She was the church secretary at the First Christian Church in Beatrice, Nebraska, and she would collect the donations.
When is Mary Kathryn Muenster's birthday?
According to her husband's X(Twitter post), Mary was born on 25 May. It is known that she was born in 1967. As of 2025, Mary Kathryn Muenster’s age is 58 years.
Source: Original
Education and career
While pursuing her education at the University of Nebraska, she took a break to work in Washington, D.C., where she served as an aide to South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle.
Mary is now the president of a non-profit organisation called Evergreen Invitational NFP. Muenster is also the president and director of the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, as well as the founder of the Pritzker Children's Initiative, which focuses on early childhood, community, and women's health issues.
What is Mary Kathryn Muenster’s net worth?
Pritzker's wife has likely amassed a substantial fortune on her own. However, there is no information available that reveals her earnings in precise figures.
Her husband has a net worth of $3.9 billion, according to Forbes. JB Pritzker's accomplishments include stabilizing Illinois' budget, attracting significant economic investments, and enacting various social and safety reforms.
Mary and JB Pritzker’s family
Mary and her husband met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. JB recalled one amusing event from that night in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times:
While we were looking at the menu, I realized my wallet was in my car four blocks away! So I excused myself — and I SPRINTED four blocks wearing a blazer and tie! I returned 10 minutes later. I thought it was over.
Mary did not leave the restaurant. They began dating shortly after. The two exchanged wedding vows in 1993. They are now parents to two children. Mary Kathryn Muenster's children are a daughter, Teddi, and a son, Donny.
Mary encourages and motivates her husband. JB's weight problems are a prime example of this. While her husband lamented his "bad genetics," she offered him a perfect solution. JB commented on it in the following way:
She jokes that I don’t do anything healthy for myself unless I invest in it, and I invested in a company called Retrofit.
The Chicago-based startup collaborates with corporations to help employees lose weight through the use of mobile technology. Mary's husband lost 50 pounds as a result of the program, which included Skype videoconferences with dietitians, psychologists, and exercise physiologists. As he later stated, the primary motivation of Pritzker appears to be as follows:
To be around for my kids and for my wife for as long as I can.
How much is the Pritzker family worth?
Source: UGC
With a combined net worth of around $44 billion, the Pritzker family is currently ranked among the world's wealthiest families in 2025. The family lives in Chicago and includes 11 billionaires.
How did the Pritzkers make their money?
The Pritzker family amassed a significant portion of their fortune through real estate and business investments. Most notably, they founded and expanded the Hyatt Hotels chain, as well as owning a diversified conglomerate across various industries, including transportation, construction, and credit reporting.
Pritzker family tragedy
The Pritzker family has faced several tragedies, including the death of J.B. Pritzker's father, Donald Pritzker, from a heart attack at age 39 in 1972, and the death of his mother, Sue Pritzker, in an accident at age 49 in 1982.
FAQs
- Who is Mary Kathryn Muenster? She is an American civic leader and philanthropist.
- Who is the wife of Jay Pritzker? He is married to Mary Kathryn "M.K." Muenster.
- What is JB Pritzker's background? J.B. Pritzker is a businessman, philanthropist, and Democratic politician who was elected Governor of Illinois in 2018.
- Where is Mary Kathryn Muenster's office? Her official First Lady's office is listed at the Illinois State Capitol: 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 16‑100, Chicago, IL.
- What is MK Pritzker's net worth? Her net worth is not publicly known.
Mary Kathryn Muenster currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and children. She maintains a low profile, making it impossible even to catch a glimpse of her family life.
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