Colonel Jennifer Pritzker, a cousin of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, is a transgender woman. Previously known as James Pritzker, she is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and a billionaire philanthropist.
Key details about Jennifer Pritzker: Military career: She served for nearly three decades in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, and the Illinois Army National Guard. In 2013, she publicly announced her transition to a woman. She became the world's first openly transgender billionaire.
Philanthropy and activism: Through her TAWANI Enterprises and TAWANI Foundation, she has supported numerous LGBTQ+-related causes. The TAWANI Foundation also focuses on education, cultural institutions, and environmental initiatives.
Though a lifelong Republican, Pritzker withdrew her support from Donald Trump's administration due to its policies affecting transgender people. In 2020, she and her cousin, J.B. Pritzker, were on opposing sides of a proposed Illinois "fair tax" amendment.
