#1673

Michael Polsky

United States 77 years old Self-Made

Overview

Source of Wealth
Electric power
Industry
Energy
Residence
Chicago, Illinois
Education
University of Chicago Booth School of Business (Master of Business Administration)
Marital Status
Married
Children
4

Biography

Ukrainian immigrant Michael Polsky founded Chicago-based Invenergy, one of the nation's biggest developers of renewable energy projects, 33 gigawatts so far.

Invenergy is seeking to build the $11 billion, 800-mile transmission line across Kansas and Missouri called Grain Belt Expresss.

Polsky made an early fortune selling natural gas generator SkyGen to Calpine for $450 million in 2001.

Polsky has sold big multi-billion-dollar stakes in Invenergy to Blackstone and Canadian pension fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec.

In 2006 an Illinois divorce court ordered him to pay wife Maya $180 million.

About

Polsky has given and pledged more than $150 million to the University of Chicago.