J. Christopher Reyes
Joseph Christopher Reyes (born 1953) is an American billionaire businessman, and the co-chairman, with his brother Jude Reyes, of Reyes Holdings, a beer and food distribution holding company, ranked by "Forbes" in 2017 as the 11th largest privately held company in the US. Early life. Reyes was born in 1953, the eldest son of Joseph A. Reyes and Frances "Frannie" Marie Reyes (nee Collins) (1925-2013). He has seven brothers and one sister, M. Jude Reyes, David K. Reyes, William F. Reyes, John J. Reyes, James V. Reyes, Julie Reyes Taubman (married to Robert S. Taubman ), Thomas A. Reyes, and Stephen Reyes (died before 2013). Reyes earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland. Career. He began his business career by purchasing a small Schlitz beer distribution business in Spartanburg, South Carolina with his brother and father. Running all aspects of the operation with his brother, the firm aggressively acquired beer distribution businesses and brands. Since 1976, Reyes Holdings has acquired more than 115 beer distribution operations. In April 1998, the firm expanded beyond beer distribution with the purchase of the Martin-Brower Company, a dedicated McDonald's distribution business operating primarily in the  US. Political donations. A Republican, he has donated $25,250 to former Illinois Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood. From 1994 to 2007, he donated $80,200 to the Illinois Republican Party and the Lake County Republican Party committees. He also donated $100,000 to Two Party System, Inc., a Republican PAC. Personal life. Reyes is married to Anne N. Reyes, they have four children and live in Hobe Sound, Florida. In 2010, he bought a house with 44 acres in Aspen, Colorado for $47.5 million. In 2022, he was named as the purchaser of the $36 million Driehaus property  in Lake Geneva, WI. Philanthropy. He is chairman of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and a member of the board of trustees for Ronald McDonald House Charities. He sits on the board of directors for Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame.