After being confirmed by the Senate this summer, Commerce Secretary
Penny Pritzker, the Chicago hotel heiress and philanthropist said to be worth more than $2 billion,
has found herself a nice new home in Northwest DC.
Pritzker plunked down $7.95 million for the home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights, according
to sources. In a recent press release announcing the sale,
though not the buyer, listing
agent Washington Fine Properties described the home
as “a perfect example of true Georgian architecture with
meticulous renovation. It
features intricately detailed crown molding, magnificent
millwork, ten-foot ceilings,
and seven bedrooms.” It was built in 1929 and occupies an
“extremely private” 12,865-square-foot
lot with a front security gate. One of the former owners of the
home was the late
William McChesney Martin Jr., who served as US Federal Reserve Bank chairman from 1951 to 1970.
Called “Chicago royalty” by
National Journal, Pritzker hails from the family that founded Hyatt hotels. A longtime friend and
supporter of President
Barack Obama, she served as his campaign’s national finance chair in 2008 and was sworn in as
the 38th secretary of Commerce on June 26. The agency’s website describes her as “a
civic and business leader with more than 25 years of experience in the real estate,
hospitality, senior living, and financial services industries.” She attended Harvard
for her undergraduate degree and Stanford University for her MBA. According to
Forbes, Pritzker’s net worth is $2.2 billion, landing her at number 277 on its list of billionaires
in the United States.
