List of Family Offices in Chicago 2026

Key Facts

• Between 30 and 42 family offices operate in the Chicago metro area and broader Illinois region, spanning single family offices (SFOs), multi-family offices (MFOs), and family foundations.
• The four largest MFOs with Chicago offices manage a combined $780 billion or more in assets under management (AUM).
• Chicago ranks as the third-largest U.S. city for family office activity, behind New York and Los Angeles. Offices cluster in the Loop, Fulton Market, and the Fulton River District.
• SFOs outnumber MFOs roughly three to one in Illinois, with over 30 single family offices tracked statewide.
• The Pritzker family runs three separate investment vehicles in Chicago, holding more than 60 portfolio companies combined.
• Direct capital deployment by private wealth offices into startups has nearly doubled over the past five years. Chicago's lower middle market focus drives much of that growth.
• Forbes counts 18 billionaires in Illinois, many of whom manage wealth through dedicated family office structures.

Chicago Family Office Landscape Overview

Chicago's family office ecosystem draws strength from the city's industrial roots, its Fortune 500 density (roughly 35 headquarters), and a Midwestern deal culture that favors patient capital over quick flips. The metro area hosts between 30 and 42 family offices. The majority concentrate downtown and in emerging commercial corridors like Fulton Market. Lake County, on the shores of Lake Michigan, ranks as the 27th wealthiest county in the United States, feeding additional ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) family activity into the region.

What separates Chicago from coastal hubs is its co-investment culture. Family offices here routinely share deal flow, pool capital on lower middle market buyouts, and build long-term operating partnerships rather than chasing headline-size transactions. Wealth origins vary widely, from Sam Zell's real estate empire and the Pritzker hospitality fortune to Ken Griffin's $11.7 billion hedge fund wealth and the Walton family's retail dynasty.

The market continues to expand. Industry estimates place the global SFO count at 8,030 as of 2024, up 31% from 2019. Chicago reflects that trend. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business launched a Family Office Initiative. Northern Trust debuted its Family Office Solutions platform in April 2025 to serve families who want institutional-grade services without building a standalone office.

Family Office Comparison

The table below captures the leading family offices in Chicago with verified data. Offices are sorted by AUM where available, then alphabetically. Most SFOs in Chicago do not publicly disclose AUM figures, so that column reflects only confirmed data.

Family Office	Type	AUM Estimate	Investment Focus	Services	Location
Northern Trust	MFO	$450.7B (wealth mgmt)	Family office solutions, institutional services	Wealth planning, legal, tax, accounting, banking, insurance	Chicago (50 S. La Salle)
Bessemer Trust (Chicago)	MFO	$200B+ (firm-wide)	Diversified wealth management	Trust, estate planning, bill pay, HR, financial education	Chicago
Cresset Asset Management	MFO	$70B	Real estate, private equity, wealth management	Financial planning, tax strategy, liquidity planning, private access	Chicago (Fulton River District)
CIBC Private Wealth	MFO	$61B	UHNW multi-generational families	Trust services, investment management, wealth planning	Chicago
The Heico Companies	SFO	—	Diversified industrial	Direct investing	Chicago
DNS Capital	SFO	—	Manufacturing, real estate, consumer, agriculture	Control and minority positions	Chicago
Pritzker Private Capital	SFO	—	Manufacturing, ESG, industrials	Direct investing	Chicago
Equity Group Investments	SFO	—	Energy, healthcare, real estate, logistics	All asset classes and stages	Chicago
Duchossois Capital Management	SFO	—	Diversified	Direct investing	Chicago
PSP Partners	SFO	—	Diversified	Direct investing	Chicago
Builders Vision	SFO	—	Impact investing, ESG, sustainability	Wealth planning, charitable ventures	Chicago

The MFO side of Chicago's market is dominated by firms with national or global scale, led by Northern Trust's $450.7 billion wealth management platform. On the SFO side, The Heico Companies holds the largest portfolio by company count (32 total, 28 current). DNS Capital leads the Pritzker-affiliated offices with 22 portfolio companies.

Top Picks by Strategy

• Largest AUM in Chicago: Northern Trust, with $450.7 billion in managed assets and a newly launched Family Office Solutions platform for families that want institutional support without a standalone office
• Most Active Direct Investor: The Heico Companies, holding 28 current portfolio companies in diversified industrial sectors
• Best for Impact Investing: Builders Vision (Walton family), dedicated entirely to ESG, sustainability, and charitable ventures
• Strongest MFO Platform: Cresset Asset Management, with $70 billion in AUM, 4,553 advisory clients, 20+ offices, and 18.1% year-over-year AUM growth
• Top Manufacturing Allocator: DNS Capital, with 17 current portfolio companies spanning manufacturing, industrials, consumer products, and agriculture
• Leading UHNW Family Service: CIBC Private Wealth, requiring $50 million or more in assets and specializing in multi-generational wealth planning
• Premier Co-Investment Network: Pritzker Private Capital, one of three Pritzker entities with 16 current portfolio companies and deep ties to Chicago's deal community

Top Family Offices in Chicago in Detail

Northern Trust

No other Chicago-based institution matches Northern Trust's scale in serving UHNW families. The firm manages $450.7 billion in wealth management assets and $16.8 trillion in assets under custody, and it serves 30% of the Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans.

In April 2025, Northern Trust launched Family Office Solutions. This platform targets families who need institutional-grade legal, tax, accounting, and capital management services but do not want to staff their own office. The firm's Global Family and Private Investment Offices practice handles complex multi-entity structures, succession planning, and estate planning for clients with global portfolios. For families exploring whether to build or outsource a private wealth office, Northern Trust offers a strong middle path.

Cresset Asset Management

Cresset has grown into Chicago's dominant multi-family office by targeting founders, entrepreneurs, and wealth creators. The firm manages $70 billion from its Fulton River District headquarters. It serves 4,553 advisory clients through 468 employees in 20+ offices, with capital managed growing 18.1% year over year.

Cresset operates under True Fiduciary standards and provides wealth management, financial planning, tax strategy, liquidity and exit planning, and private allocation access. Families navigating a business sale or liquidity event will find Cresset's exit planning capabilities relevant. The firm has received recognition from Barron's, Forbes, and Crain's Chicago Business.

Equity Group Investments (EGI)

Sam Zell's private wealth office defines contrarian, high-conviction investing in Chicago. EGI invests in any asset class and stage, with concentrated positions in energy, healthcare, real estate, and logistics.

Zell's track record includes the $39 billion sale of Equity Office Properties Trust in 2007, one of the largest real estate transactions in U.S. history. He chairs four NYSE-listed companies: Equity Residential, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Equity Commonwealth, and Equity Distribution Acquisition Corp. EGI runs a lean team that takes on complex, large-scale deals. The office operates more like a high-intensity principal investing platform than a passive wealth preservation vehicle.

The Heico Companies

By portfolio count alone, Heico is Chicago's most prolific family office investor. It holds 32 total portfolio companies with 28 currently active, all in diversified industrial sectors.

Heico operates as a buy-and-build platform, acquiring companies and holding them for the long term. The firm's patient capital approach and operational focus make it a natural fit for industrial business owners seeking a permanent home for their company rather than a five-year private equity hold.

DNS Capital

DNS Capital is the most active of the three Pritzker-affiliated offices by deal count. The firm manages 22 total portfolio companies (17 current) for Gigi Pritzker and Michael Pucker.

DNS Capital takes both control and minority positions in manufacturing, industrials, real estate, consumer products, and agriculture. Its willingness to structure flexible deals, from minority stakes to full buyouts, distinguishes it from traditional private equity. Business owners in the lower middle market seeking patient, relationship-driven capital will find DNS Capital well aligned with that goal.

Pritzker Private Capital

Tony Pritzker, JB Pritzker, and Paul Carbone run this arm of the Pritzker family's allocation activities. The office targets manufacturing, ESG-oriented businesses, and industrials. It holds 30 total portfolio companies with 16 currently active.

Pritzker Private Capital operates similarly to a middle market private equity fund, with comparable deal volume and working expectations. The Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation sponsors the Family Office Initiative at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. This reflects the family's broader commitment to advancing family office practices.

The Pritzker Organization (TPO)

Thomas J. Pritzker's vehicle rounds out the Pritzker family's Chicago presence. TPO focuses on manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, oil and gas, and real estate, holding 11 total portfolio companies with 10 currently active.

The three Pritzker entities collectively control more than 60 portfolio companies. That makes the family the single largest source of direct-deal capital in Chicago's family office ecosystem.

Builders Vision

Backed by the Walton family's retail fortune, Builders Vision is Chicago's leading impact-focused wealth platform. The firm dedicates its capital exclusively to socially responsible investing, ESG, sustainability initiatives, and charitable ventures. Focus areas include affordable housing, clean energy, workforce development, and education.

For families or institutional allocators seeking to co-invest alongside a mission-driven office with deep pockets and a clear mandate, Builders Vision represents a rare alignment of scale and purpose.

CIBC Private Wealth

CIBC Private Wealth targets UHNW multi-generational families with $50 million or more in investable assets. The firm manages $61 billion and provides trust administration, capital management, and wealth planning. Its high minimum sets it apart from most Chicago MFOs and signals a focus on complexity over volume.

Families with multi-entity structures, cross-border holdings, or generational wealth transfer needs will find CIBC's platform tailored to that level of detail.

Duchossois Capital Management

The Duchossois family manages a diversified portfolio of 17 total companies (11 current), deploying permanent capital with a long-term outlook. The office is active in Chicago's private equity circles and participates in the local deal community through networks like the Private Equity Association of Chicago (PEAC).

Business owners seeking a family-backed buyer with staying power and Midwestern values will find Duchossois well positioned for that role.

PSP Partners

PSP Partners holds 13 total portfolio companies with 10 currently active, investing in a diversified range of sectors. The firm operates as a traditional SFO with a direct investing mandate. It contributes to Chicago's deep bench of family-backed acquirers in the lower middle market.

Crown Family Philanthropies

The Crown family maintains a full-sized allocation team in Chicago, directing capital toward education, healthcare, social services, and environmental initiatives. Sara Crown Star serves as a Venture Partner at FemHealth Ventures and Director of the Crown Family Foundation, representing the next generation's active role in the family's giving and investing.

Crown Family Philanthropies blends foundation-style charitable deployment with investment-grade oversight and family governance structures.

Investment Trends Shaping This Market

Lower Middle Market Direct Deals

Chicago's private wealth offices target the lower middle market more heavily than their coastal peers. The Heico Companies, DNS Capital, and Pritzker Private Capital collectively hold over 80 active portfolio companies, almost all acquired through direct deals rather than fund commitments. Deal sourcing platforms list 25 Chicago-based offices actively seeking transactions.

This concentration of patient, permanent capital creates a distinct advantage for business owners seeking buyers who will hold and grow their companies rather than flip them within a fund cycle.

Impact Investing and ESG Mandates

Builders Vision, Pritzker Private Capital, and the Kadens Family Foundation lead Chicago's shift toward impact-oriented capital. Builders Vision backs clean energy and affordable housing. Kadens Family Foundation blends traditional charitable giving with allocations in machine learning and digital security.

Chicago's South and West sides have become proving grounds for offices investing in real estate that generates both financial returns and community impact. Green building initiatives and LEED-certified construction drive much of this activity.

Co-Investment Networks

The collaborative culture among Chicago's family offices remains a defining feature of this market. Families share deal flow, syndicate buyouts, and pool expertise in ways that are less common in New York or San Francisco. PEAC, the Family Office Exchange (FOX), and events like the Annual Chicago Family Office Conference at the University Club facilitate these connections.

For families or fund managers seeking co-investment partners, Chicago's density of relationship-driven offices creates a strong pipeline.

Tech Ecosystem Expansion

Family office allocations to technology startups have nearly doubled over the past five years in the Chicago market. DRW's venture arm backed Shiftgig ($56 million in total funding). Harmonic Equity targets software buyouts. SkyBox Capital focuses on e-commerce and digital media.

Spring Creek Partners, based in Rockford, was an early Silicon Valley investor in the late 1960s and continues to back venture capital at every stage. Chicago's growing tech scene gives local offices proprietary deal flow that coastal firms do not naturally access.

How to Evaluate a Family Office in Chicago

Chicago's density of 30 to 42 private wealth offices creates a selection challenge that smaller markets do not face. Start by clarifying whether you need an SFO-style direct investing partner or an MFO wealth management platform. The gap between these two models is wide here: Cresset and CIBC Private Wealth offer full-service advisory with financial planning, tax strategy, and estate planning. Offices like DNS Capital and The Heico Companies function as pure-play acquirers with no advisory services.

Fee structures and wealth thresholds vary by office type. CIBC Private Wealth requires $50 million or more in investable assets. Cresset and Bessemer Trust serve broader UHNW populations. Most SFOs do not take outside clients at all. Understanding these boundaries before engaging saves time on both sides.

Co-investment capability matters more in Chicago than in most markets. If your goal is to invest alongside other families, evaluate whether the office participates in club deals and has existing relationships through PEAC or FOX. Pritzker Private Capital and Duchossois Capital Management are embedded in these networks and actively syndicate deals.

Sector alignment is the final filter. Chicago's SFOs cluster around manufacturing, industrials, and real estate (Heico, DNS Capital, and Equity Group Investments reflect this pattern). If your wealth comes from a technology exit and you need venture-stage expertise, the options narrow to firms like Spring Creek Partners or Harmonic Equity. Research each office's mandate and past portfolio before approaching. Chicago's community values preparation and long-term relationship building over cold outreach.

Which Family Office Fits Your Needs?

UHNW families managing $50 million or more in liquid assets and seeking full wealth management should focus on Northern Trust, CIBC Private Wealth, and Bessemer Trust. All three offer estate planning, trust services, tax strategy, and capital management at institutional scale. Northern Trust's new Family Office Solutions platform fits families who want those benefits without the cost of building a standalone office.

Business owners in manufacturing, industrials, or consumer sectors who are planning a sale will find Chicago's SFO ecosystem unusually deep. DNS Capital, The Heico Companies, and Pritzker Private Capital all acquire and hold businesses with permanent capital. This appeals to founders who care about their company's legacy after a transaction. Temple Hall Group and The Boler Company offer similar buy-and-hold models for upper middle market businesses.

Next-generation wealth holders and families with impact mandates should explore Builders Vision for ESG-aligned investing and Cresset for a growth-oriented MFO with fiduciary standards. Institutional allocators seeking co-investment deal flow in Chicago's lower middle market can connect through PEAC, the University of Chicago Booth Family Office Initiative, and the annual Chicago Family Office Conference at the University Club.

Methodology

This list of family offices in Chicago was compiled from publicly available data, including deal platform records, regulatory filings, industry association listings, and wealth databases. Offices earned inclusion based on verified Chicago-area operations, active portfolios, and relevance to UHNW families seeking wealth management or direct allocation partners. AUM figures reflect the most recent publicly reported data as of 2025. SFOs that do not disclose AUM were evaluated on portfolio company count, deal activity, and sector focus. This article covers the most prominent offices but is not exhaustive. Chicago's market includes additional smaller and private offices that do not appear in public records.