Chicago billionaire James Crown was killed in a racing accident in Colorado on June 25, 2023.Photo:Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan
Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan
A prominent Chicago billionaire died on Sunday in a racing accident in Colorado.
James Crown was killed in a single-vehicle crash at Aspen Motorsports Park in Woody Creek, Colorado, the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE.
“The official cause of death is pending autopsy, although multiple blunt force trauma is evident,” the coroner’s office said in a statement. “The manner is accident.”
James Crown, pictured with his wife Paula Crown, was a prominent member of the Chicago business community.Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Crown, who turned 70 on Sunday, was chairman and CEO of his family business, the investment firm Henry Crown and Company. He also served as a director of JPMorgan Chase and lead director of General Dynamics Corporation.
“He was the leader of our family both intellectually and emotionally, and he looked out for everybody,” dad Lester Crown told theChicago Sun-Times. “He also was a great leader also for the community. It’s just a heartfelt loss.”
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At the time of his death, Crown — who lived in Chicago but frequented Colorado, where he had a home in Pitkin County — was the chairman emeritus of the board overseeing the Aspen Institute, which this week is hosting the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen. He was also a managing partner of Aspen Skiing Co.
In 2014,President Barack Obamaappointed Crown to serve on his intelligence advisory board.
“A lifelong Chicagoan, Jim gave back to the city through philanthropy and leadership on a number of civic and academic boards as he was deeply committed to investing in Chicago and its people,” Johnson said in a statement toCBS Chicago.
“With his generosity, Jim truly embodied the soul of Chicago,” he continued. “I was especially grateful for his commitment to work collaboratively with my administration to build a safer Chicago, having met recently to share ideas.”
Forbesestimated the Crown family’s wealth at $10.2 billion in 2020.
source: people.com
