Who is Mary Kathryn Muenster, Wife of J. B. Pritzker?

Mary Kathryn Muenster is the wife of the current and forty-third Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker. An advocate for women’s wellbeing, Muenster has taken her husband’s empire to the heights of success. 

She is the epitome of inspiration to several young women all around the world. Let’s take a look at some of the more important milestones of her life. 

Everything We Know About Mary Kathryn Muenster’s Early Life

According to several reports, Mary celebrates her birthday on 25 May every year. She was born in 1967 in South Dakota. As per this information, Mary Kathryn Muenster’s age is 55. Additionally, she follows Christianity and holds American citizenship. 

Growing up, Mary often visited her grandparents who lived in Nebraska. In fact, she once shared that it was during this time that she learned about farming. Mary also recalled that even though her grandparents weren’t well-off, she enjoyed every moment spent with them. 

In addition to this, she often talks about her grandmother, with whom she shared a very special bond. Mary’s granny taught her how to knit and also encouraged her to learn the importance of giving. 

Mary Kathryn Muenster Family & Biography 

You already know that Mary was born in South Dakota and was very close to her grandparents. But what about her parents and siblings? Well, we are here to talk more about the other members of her family. 

Mary Kathryn Muenster’s parents were Karen and Theodore Muenster. Besides, Mary’s mother was a State Senator (1987 to 1993), and her father was the Chief of Staff to Richard Kneip (Governor of South Dakota). 

Moreover, in 1990, her father unsuccessfully ran for United States Senate. 

Talking about her siblings, Mary Kathryn Muenster grew up alongside two brothers – Tom (elder) and Ted (younger). Growing up as a middle child wasn’t a breeze for Mary since her brothers would fight over trivial things. 

However, upon reaching adulthood, the trio grew extremely close to each other. 

Mary Muenster’s Education & Career History

Mary Muenster was born in South Dakota but spent most of her early years with her grandparents. After completing her primary and secondary education, Muenster joined the University of Nebraska.

However, she took a break from her studies and relocated to Washington, D.C. As someone belonging to a political background, it was obvious for Mary Kathryn Muenster to get into the same line. 

Therefore, she started working as the assistant to Tom Daschle, former South Dakota Senator. During this time, she met her now husband, J.B. Pritzker, who serves as the Governor of Illinois at present. 

We shall have a look into their love story in the next section, but first, let’s take a look at what Mary Kathryn Muenster is upto currently. 

Well, Mary is the president and director of the Pritzker Family Foundation. In addition to that, she is also the founder of Pritzker’s Children Initiative, which provides solutions to women’s health issues, early childhood, and community issues. 

This isn’t all; Muenster is also the president of a nonprofit organization, Evergreen Invitational NFP. It focuses on healthcare solutions for women belonging to unprivileged sections of society. 

Mary Kathryn Muenster and J.B. Pritzker’s Marriage 

A perfect match made in heaven, Muenster and Pritzer have been together for more than two decades. 

The sweet couple met in 1988 when Mary was working as an assistant to Tom Daschle. On the other hand, J.B. was a part-time aide to Tom Lantos, an American politician, and was also attending Georgetown University. 

Talking about the couple’s first encounter, they met on a blind date which was set up by their mutual friend. 

While looking at the menu, J.B. suddenly realized that he had left his wallet in his car, almost four blocks away from the restaurant. He excused himself and returned almost ten minutes later. According to him, he had already ruined his blind date.

However, to his surprise, Mary was still at the restaurant waiting for him to return. She wondered why he was covered in sweat – not how most love stories start, but we are in awe! Soon enough, the couple began dating. 

While J.B. was charmed by Mary Kathryn Muenster’s beauty, she loved how kind and generous Pritzker was. Three years later, the current Governor of Illinois asked Mary for her hand in marriage, and the couple finally tied the knot in 1993. 

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pritzker settled in Evanston, Illinois. 

How Many Kids Do Mary and J.B. Pritzker Have?

Mary Kathryn Muenster and her husband make a perfect pair. They have been married for more than two decades now, and their love is still getting stronger day by day. 

Moreover, the couple has two children together – a boy and a girl. Additionally, their names are Teddi Pritzker and Donny Pritzker. While their daughter, Theodora (Teddi), is named after her maternal grandfather, their son Donald (Donny) is named after his paternal grandfather. 

Furthermore, Pritzker and Muenster call each other by their initials, i.e., MK and JB. Their friends often joke that they should call their kids A, B, and so on. 

Mary Kathryn Muenster’s Net Worth

Mary belongs to a very humble background. However, her husband, J.B. Pritzker comes from a very influential and wealthy American family that owns the renowned multinational hospitality company, Hyatt. 

On a personal front, J.B. has founded several start-ups, including the Pritzker Group. Moreover, his personal net worth is $3.6 billion. 

Talking about his wife, Mary Kathryn Muenster’s net worth, it is believed that she has a total of $2 million in her bank account. 

Rumors and Controversies

Belonging to a political family can often get you into unnecessary drama. However, Mary Kathryn Muenster knows how to keep it calm. Therefore, she does not make any comments that may hurt the sentiments of people. 

In addition to that, she also refrains from making remarks on political issues. The only thing Mary Kathryn Muenster is known for is praising her husband’s good work. The couple supports each other through the ebbs and flows and makes sure to encourage each other. 

Where Does Mary and Her Family Live?

According to sources, J.B Pritzker and his loving wife, Mary Kathryn Muenster, moved to  Evanston, Illinois, after exchanging vows. However, at present, it is revealed that the couple, along with their two children, lives in the Gold Coast Historic District, Chicago. 

According to a news article published by a leading online magazine, Pritzker brought a mansion near his house and got its toilets removed deliberately. Due to the same reason, the mansion’s value dropped to $1.1 million from $6.25 million.

It further aided in the reduction of property tax, making it easier for Pritzker to pay less amount to the Government. 

Mary Kathryn Muenster’s Vital Statistics

Mary has gorgeous features that enhance her beauty. Moreover, her blonde hair and green eyes complement her fair skin tone. Her amazing height also makes her look spectacular at public events, especially when she wears designer dresses. 

If we talk about Mary Kathryn Muenster’s height, she is 5 feet 8 inches tall. Moreover, her weight is 55 kg. 

Apart from being the president and director of the Pritzker Family Foundation, Mary is also an investor in a company called Retrofit. The company uses mobile technology to help people lose weight. 

One of the primary reasons why Mary Kathryn Muenster invested in this company is because she wanted to balance her husband, J.B. Pritzker’s weight and height ratio. 

Final Note by PopularBeing 

The wife of a famous politician, businessman, and billionaire heir, Mary Kathryn Muenster, is a humble and down-to-earth person. Apart from being famous as the First Lady of Illinois, Mary has been a contributing factor to J. B. Pritzker’s successful business empire. 

Her journey reminds us of Kim Klacik, an American politician and businesswoman who is just as hard-working as Mary.